Listen&Learn: Auroras

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Learn about the lights that appear over the North and South Poles.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• plasma: a type of gas with charged particles
• collide: to run into something
• atmosphere: the layer of gases around a planet
• gas giant: a type of large planet that is mostly made of gas
• ultraviolet: a type of light that is invisible to humans
• solar: relating to the sun

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17 — 1.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Gapfill exercise

Auroras are bright that appear in the sky over the North and South Poles. They are commonly known as northern and southern lights. Auroras occur when particles of plasma shoot out of the sun and collide with in the Earth’s atmosphere. Different types of gas can create different colours of light. Oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen creates violet light. Auroras on other often have different colours because of the different gases that are in their atmospheres. On gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, auroras are ultraviolet. Although auroras are nice to look at, they can also be . The solar particles can cause damage to technology on Earth. Scientists hope to learn more about auroras so that they can prevent possible problems in the future.

Comprehension questions

1. Auroras appear in the sky over

the equator

South America

the North and South Poles

Correct! Wrong!

Auroras appear in the sky over the North and South Poles.

2. When particles from the sun collide with oxygen, they create

green light

violet light

ultraviolet light

Correct! Wrong!

When particles from the sun collide with oxygen, they create green light.

3. The solar particles can cause

damage to technology on Earth

health issues for people living at the North Pole

distractions for pilots of airplanes

Correct! Wrong!

The solar particles can cause damage to technology on Earth.

Discussion/essay questions

1. Can you see auroras where you live? Would you ever travel to see them?

Transcript

Auroras are bright lights that appear in the sky over the North and South Poles. They are commonly known as northern and southern lights. Auroras occur when particles of plasma shoot out of the sun and collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Different types of gas can create different colours of light. Oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen creates violet light. Auroras on other planets often have different colours because of the different gases that are common in their atmospheres. On gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, auroras are ultraviolet. Although auroras are nice to look at, they can also be dangerous. The solar particles can cause damage to technology on Earth. Scientists hope to learn more about auroras so that they can prevent possible problems in the future.

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

Subscribe to EnglishClub Podcasts

13 comments

• Kate says:
  

  I would like someone to teach me english, please help me

• Selena says:
  

  I’m living in Vietnam and never see auroras.
  As I know that have somewhere as Iceland & North Scandinavie are 2 famous places for Auroras viewing tour so hope that I have chance to visit there.
  Thank you for great topic.

• Miryam says:
  

  I’m interesting to listen more English. I’d like have a partner and can speak with him.

• Marina Kipiani says:
  

  It’s interesting information for me. Thank you for this article. I hope that similar teams will be in action in the
  future.

• Aziz says:
  

  Aruras could be dangerous to our healthy and healthy of other alive creatures

• SIOMARA DE CASSIA MIRANDA says:
  

  I really appreciated this subject! Thanks for sharing!

• Dorcas says:
  

  This is really really interesting, fascinating and captivating. I really like this particular topic so much. Have gotten a new information.

• Lidia says:
  

  I think it’s interesting the information. I like the part of different types of gas can create different colours of light.

• tree95 says:
  

  good , thank you very much !

• Alfonso says:
  

  I ever haven’t seen one Aurora, because it from Colombia it’s impossible I can see it, maybe in country as Scotland, Finland or Norway. I would like travel to a country where I can see it, It mus be a awesome experience.

• Dan says:
  

  Interesting lesson, now I understand more about the Auroras (australis and borealis).

• Kulvinder says:
  

  I need some one to teach me English

• Khaled says:
  

  I need some one to teach me english , i need to speak English very well