A student discussion
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 …
Well I think it will be an exciting experience but only for discovering other new planets or learning more about our universe, However I am not sure if an entire nation can live there, and even if that happens, it would at least take a million years to live the same way we do on Earth
So, regarding the comparison between Earth and Mars , and based on the information and technology we have today, I think that currently Mars doesn't support human life. However, as you know, the human brain has no limits. So, in the future people might be able to live on Mars or even on other planets.
It's hard to be sure now, but if we look back at the past, many things that seemed impossible before are possible today.
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I'm not really sure
Such a unique interesting information about the two planets
To the best of my knowledge, scientists or those at NASA have said that there is a possibility of life on another planet.
I think Mars has no conditions to suport human live. We need air, we need gravity and we can't live always with a too cold temperature. We have to protect Earth and do investiments in green solutions to mobility and prodution of food, for live here.
I think it won't happen because god put Adam on earth and said
"From it you were created and to it you will return".
As all human achievements in our time progress, evolve and change situations in our lives in a very short time - compared to previous years - it is almost certain that this will happen too. No one would have believed 100 years ago that we would reach the Moon, be connected to the entire world through a global communication network and so many countless achievements from all sciences.
Now technology runs faster. Every day successes come from where you do not expect.
Yes, I believe that very soon people will inhabit Mars. Unless the misuse of all these achievements leads the world to destruction.
No I don’t suppose it will happen, as we hear in audio the differences was more and enough to tells us that is almost impossible.