Listen&Learn: Galileo

Learn about the famous Italian astronomer.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• contribution: an accomplishment that has helped advance a field
• telescope: a tool that allows people to see far distances by looking through a lens
• observe: to watch something for the purpose of learning about it
• proponent: a person who argues that something is true
• heliocentrism: the idea that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun
• heresy: the crime of disagreeing with a dominant religion

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:14 — 1.1MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Galileo Galilei, often simply called “Galileo”, was an Italian scientist. He made historic contributions in the fields of , physics, and mathematics. He was also an inventor and an artist. Galileo was born in 1564. He began studying math and science when he was in . One of his major accomplishments was improving the of telescopes. He was one of the first people to use a telescope to observe space. Galileo’s studies of the night sky led him to several discoveries, including the of Jupiter and the planet Neptune, which he originally believed was a star. Galileo was also an early proponent of heliocentrism, which is the idea that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. In fact, he was convicted of heresy by the Catholic church for arguing that the Earth was not the centre of the . Galileo died in 1642, but he later became known as the father of modern science.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. Galileo
   a. invented the telescope
   b. improved the technology of telescopes
   c. mostly observed space without a telescope
   
2. Galileo believed that
   a. the Earth was the centre of the universe
   b. the Earth and other planets orbited the Sun
   c. Neptune was a planet and not a star
   
3. Galileo was convicted of
   a. heresy
   b. fraud
   c. theft

Discussion/essay questions

1. Throughout history, many scientists have been shunned for sharing their observations. Why do you think people struggle to accept new ideas?

Transcript

Galileo Galilei, often simply called “Galileo”, was an Italian scientist. He made historic contributions in the fields of astronomy, physics, and mathematics. He was also an inventor and an artist. Galileo was born in 1564. He began studying math and science when he was in university. One of his major accomplishments was improving the technology of telescopes. He was one of the first people to use a telescope to observe space. Galileo’s studies of the night sky led him to several discoveries, including the moons of Jupiter and the planet Neptune, which he originally believed was a star. Galileo was also an early proponent of heliocentrism, which is the idea that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. In fact, he was convicted of heresy by the Catholic church for arguing that the Earth was not the centre of the universe. Galileo died in 1642, but he later became known as the father of modern science.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2b 3a