B2 · Upper intermediate: longer text with abstract ideas and less common words. A1 is the easiest level, C2 the hardest.
Healthy corals help bleached corals recover by touch
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Scientists at Stanford University have found a simple way to bring bleached coral back to life. The team, led by PhD student Danny Collins and Professor Stephen Palumbi, put healthy coral pieces next to bleached ones. When the two touched, the pale coral slowly got its color back. The study was published this week in the journal Science Advances.
The idea came from a lab accident. A healthy piece of coral fell onto a bleached one in a tank, and the sick coral began to recover where they touched. Coral bleaching happens when the water gets too warm. The coral pushes out the tiny algae that live inside it and give it food and color. In the experiment, the two pieces joined their tissue, and the healthy one passed algae to its partner. One week of contact was enough. After that, the pieces could be separated, and the bleached coral finished recovering in up to seven weeks, much faster than corals usually recover in the wild.
The method has clear limits. The scientists tested only one kind of coral, called cauliflower coral, and the pieces came from the same colony, so they were genetically identical. It is hard to see how divers could do this on a whole reef. The team now wants to find easier ways to move algae to bleached corals. Other experts say the best long-term answer is still to cut greenhouse gas emissions, because warmer oceans cause the bleaching.
Speaking
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Questions, sentence starters and words
Questions
- OpinionDo you think scientists should spend money on saving coral reefs? Why or why not?
- ExperienceHave you ever visited the sea or a nature place that you wanted to protect? What was it like?
- What ifWhat if you could join a team that helps repair a coral reef? What would you want to do?
- OpinionIs it better to fix damage in nature or to stop the cause of the damage? Explain your view.
- ExperienceTell me about a time when a small mistake led to a good result for you.
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- I think that...
- In my country...
- One reason is that...
- If I could, I would...
Words from the text
- bleached C1
- recover B2
- algae C1
- contact B1
- accident A2
- tissue C1
- limit B1
- emissions B2
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# Speaking practice: Helping coral reefs survive warming oceans
You are my friendly English conversation partner. We talk by voice, so keep every reply short: one to three sentences. Speak English only.
First ask me, in one short question, what my English level is, then use words and sentences at that level.
Topic: Helping coral reefs survive warming oceans. It comes from a short text called “Healthy corals help bleached corals recover by touch”.
Ask these questions one at a time. Wait for my answer, react to it in a few words, then ask the next one.
1. Do you think scientists should spend money on saving coral reefs? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever visited the sea or a nature place that you wanted to protect? What was it like?
3. What if you could join a team that helps repair a coral reef? What would you want to do?
4. Is it better to fix damage in nature or to stop the cause of the damage? Explain your view.
5. Tell me about a time when a small mistake led to a good result for you.
If I get stuck, give me one of these sentence starters or make the question easier:
- I think that...
- In my country...
- One reason is that...
- If I could, I would...
Encourage me to use these words from the text:
- bleached (C1)
- recover (B2)
- algae (C1)
- contact (B1)
- accident (A2)
- tissue (C1)
- limit (B1)
- emissions (B2)
Rules:
- Do not correct me while I speak. Let me finish my thought.
- Quietly keep a list of my mistakes and of the new words I used or needed.
- When I say we are done, or after the last question, give me a summary: my mistakes with the corrected sentences, the new words with a short meaning each, and one thing to practise next.
Start now with the first question.
Does your assistant open links?
Give it this address instead of the prompt:
https://engofy.com/en/posts/healthy-corals-help-bleached-corals-recover-by-touch-yz3cnI5q/speaking.mdType the answer
One word is in the wrong form: “get”. Type the correct form of that word.
When the two touched, the pale coral slowly get its color back.
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Scientists at Stanford University have a simple way to bring bleached coral back to life.
found "found" is a past participle (from "find"), so it fits the gap.
1–4 pick Enter check / continue S skip
Choose the form
The , led by PhD student Danny Collins and Professor Stephen Palumbi, put healthy coral pieces next to bleached ones.
team "team" is a singular noun, so it fits the gap.
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Choose the form
Coral happens when the water gets too warm.
bleaching "bleaching" is a singular noun, so it fits the gap.
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Choose the form
The pushes out the tiny algae that live inside it and give it food and color.
coral "coral" is a singular noun, so it fits the gap.
1–4 pick Enter check / continue S skip
Type the answer
One word is in the wrong form: “join”. Type the correct form of that word.
In the experiment, the two pieces join their tissue, and the healthy one passed algae to its partner.
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Put in order
Tap the words in the order of the sentence.
1–6 pick a word Backspace reset Enter continue S skip
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One word is in the wrong form: “test”. Type the correct form of that word.
The scientists test only one kind of coral, called cauliflower coral, and the pieces came from the same colony, so they were genetically identical.
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Enter check / continue S skip