A student discussion

A student discussion

Listen to two students comparing Mars and Earth to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Teacher: So you've got a few minutes to discuss with your partner.

Student 1: So, as far as I know, the main similarity between Mars and Earth is that they can both support human life.

Student 2: Yeah, but do we know that's actually true? I mean, Mars is much colder than Earth, isn't it? It says here it's about minus 55 degrees most of the time, whereas on Earth only places like Antarctica get that cold.

Student 1: True. Well then, I suppose you could say both planets are a similar distance from the Sun?

Student 2: No way! Mars is much further away! It says here it's about 228 million kilometres, while Earth is about 150 million.

Student 1: Yes, but in space that's not that far. Jupiter is, like, almost 780 million kilometres. That's why we use astronomical units when we talk about distances in space. Earth is 1 astronomical unit from the Sun and Mars is 1.3. The difference doesn't sound so big when you look at it that way.

Student 2: I see what you mean. Jupiter is 5.2 astronomical units so I guess you're right. What other similarities are there between the two planets?

Student 1: Let's see … not the colour, obviously!

Student 2: Yeah! Earth is called the blue planet and Mars is called the red planet for pretty obvious reasons!

Student 1: Their sizes are pretty different. Mars is about half the size of Earth.

Student 2: What about this? It looks like the days on both planets are almost the same length. Earth's day is 24 hours but Mars's is about half an hour longer.

Student 1: You're right. OK, any other things they both share?

Student 2: I suppose you could say they have water in common.

Student 1: Could you? How?

Student 2: Well, Earth is 70 per cent water and Mars probably had huge oceans in the past. It's just that most of the water there now is probably frozen.

Student 1: Ah, I see. I don't think we can say the air is the same, though. Most of Earth's air is nitrogen and oxygen, but Mars …?

Student 2: Mars doesn't really have air, not compared with Earth. It's got about one per cent as much air as Earth.

Student 1: Right, and it's mostly carbon dioxide.

Student 2: Gravity is another difference. I didn't know this, but Mars has higher gravity than the Moon. But it's much less than on Earth, of course.

Student 1: Oh, yes. It says Mars has about 38 per cent of Earth's gravity.

Teacher: OK, let's see what you've found …

Discussion

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Average: 4.3 (210 votes)

Submitted by stephenwoods on Thu, 19/01/2023 - 07:57

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This is a great platform they have shared with anyone. We all know that English is tough but on the opposite is more fun and exciting! Awesome

Submitted by Enass on Wed, 18/01/2023 - 04:41

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I don't think so. I think the life in Mars planet is difficult because it has pretty obvious differnces from earth such as air, temperature, gravity and water.
But may be in the future it will be possible to live there.

Submitted by megdad hassan on Tue, 17/01/2023 - 14:42

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I think it's too early to make a judgement about that, because we didn't have enough knowledgement and capabilities right now.

Submitted by Snizhana17 on Wed, 11/01/2023 - 10:00

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In my opinion, life on Mars is very hard decision for people.I don't think that people will leave the Earth for Mars.We have to remember that the weather patterns on Mars is extremely hard to survive for people.Firstly, the temperature is low.Secondly, there isn't air, that's why I consider it's impossible now to live there, because the life on that planet will be not comfortable for people, it will be rather a contest "to survive".But, to be honest, the rate of improving technology imaze us, and maybe in the future we can travell to Mars and just be there as a tourist.

Submitted by hm_ml on Tue, 10/01/2023 - 16:59

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I don't think so. We have to keep our earth instead of searching new planet to live.

Submitted by eshbekov on Tue, 10/01/2023 - 08:11

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I think it is too early to make such decision. Because humanity doesn't have enought knowlage about Mars.

Submitted by Huiyan Chen on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 12:31

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No, I don't think so. Because the environmental conditions on Mars are not completely suitable for human. First of all, the temperature is extremely low here most of the time. Secondly, Mars doesn't have air. Humans can't breathe here.

Submitted by MFC23 on Fri, 06/01/2023 - 00:23

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Hi, I can complete the preparation exercise cause it doesn't save the answers.

Hello MFC23,

When you want to add another word or phrase to a group, you have to click or press on the small white hand at the side of the words already in the box. If you don't do this, then the new words will stay but the old words will disappear from the box.

It's a little difficult to explain, so please let me know if you'd like me to explain it again.

All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by malejaquintero93 on Thu, 05/01/2023 - 02:52

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I think it's possible because human technology has made great strides like building a hotel on Mars, Elon will innovate with an interplanetary cell phone, so everything is possible.