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 …
Hello to everyone,
Earth and Mars are two different planets, and their purpose are also different.
I am human being base!
So, let's humans first learn how to live in a peace on earth, before trying to live in Mars !
I like studying here with "Learn English British Council".
I think there is a huge possibility that people will be present on the plant Mars in the Future. But the time will see.
Scientific findings are always changing. Nobody can predict the future.
sciencetists believe humans can live on Mars one day because we already have technology for space travel , habitats and using Martian water .but mars is extremely dangerous due to thin air, radiation, and extremely cold. so living there is possible but very difficult, and will only happen with advanced future technology.
Since they are different in nature, I don't think so.
Can someone explain to me?I don't understand why Mars is 50per cent smaller I didn't catch this part.
Hello Jelly Yo Yo,
50% smaller means that it is half the size, so the key sentence in the text is this one from Student 1:
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
The sentence you're referring to is: "Mars is about half the size of Earth." This means that Mars has approximately 50% of Earth's diameter and about 15% of Earth's volume. So, Mars is smaller in both size and volume compared to Earth.
Hi, In this sentence: "Their sizes are pretty different. Mars is about half the size of Earth". When referring to HALF, it is the same 50%.
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