Answer Key: Invisibility
Invisibility: No Longer Just Fiction…
I. Pre-Reading Tasks
A. Predictions: Students’ choice.
B. Write your Predictions: Students’ choice.
C. Video: Students’ choice.
II. While Reading Tasks
A. Vocabulary: Word Inference
- hijacked (highjack) verb [ trans. ] illegally seize (an aircraft, ship, or vehicle) in transit and force it to go to a different destination or use it for one’s own purposes.
- intriguing verb |inˈtrēg| ( -trigues , -trigued , -triguing ) [ trans. ] arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate : I was intrigued by your question.
- phenomena (plural form of phenomenon) noun a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, esp. one whose cause or explanation is in question : a remarkable person, thing, or event. glaciers are unique and interesting natural phenomena.
- mirage..noun an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, esp. the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air.
- grasp verb [ trans. ] get mental hold of; comprehend fully : the way in which children could grasp complex ideas.
- desert noun a dry, barren area of land, esp. one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.
- light rays (light ray) noun In optics, a ray is an idealized narrow beam of light. (Wikipedia).
- swaps (swap) verb ( substitute (one thing) for another : I swapped my busy life on Wall Street for a peaceful mountain retreat.
- exceptional adjective unusually good; outstanding.
- conduct verb [ trans. ] Physics: transmit (a form of energy such as heat or electricity) by conduction : heat is conducted to the surface.
- cloaking noun • figurative something serving to hide or disguise something : lifting the cloak of secrecy on the arms trade.
- demonstrated (demonstrate) verb [ trans. ] give a practical exhibition and explanation of (how a machine, skill, or craft works or is performed)
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Suggestion: You might consider having students make sentences using these words either during class, or as a homework assignment.
B. Vocabulary: Word recognition
Dallas, managed, simulate, creates, illusion, grasp, desert, middle, researchers, exceptional, conductors.
C. Reading for Comprehension-True / False
1. Scientists from the University of Denver have managed to simulate a device that creates the illusion of invisibility. F- University of Dallas
2. To create this device, researchers have imitated one of nature’s most intriguing phenomena ,the mirage. T
3. It can hide objects from view, works best on land and even has a near-instant on/off switch. F- It can hide objects from view, works best underwater.
4. To understand how it works, you need to first grasp the basics of Physics. F-grasp the basics of the mirage effect.
5. This unusual experience, sometimes seen in the desert or on hot roads during the summer, can trick your brain into seeing objects that aren’t really there. T
6. It happens when a big change in light over a small distance bends light rays so they’re sent towards the eye rather than bouncing off the surface. F-…It happens when a big change in temperature…
7. So if you see a pool of blue water in the middle of the desert it’s just the blue sky being redirected from the warm ground… T
8. With that in mind, the researchers wanted to find a material that has an exceptional ability to conduct heat and quickly transfer it to surrounding areas… T
9. That material, they found, was sheets of metal dioxide. F- That material, they found, was sheets of carbon nanotubes.
10. A spokesperson for the Institute of Physics made the following statement, “It is remarkable to see this cloaking device demonstrated in real life and on a workable scale.” T
III. Post Reading Tasks
A. Reading Comprehension Check
Suggestions: For WH-questions: Students can answer questions in small groups, as a class discussion, or possibly as a writing assignment for homework.
IV. Listening Activity
Title of Video: ‘Invisibility Shield’ May Soon See Combat
Sept 23, 2011 — Narrated by R. Foley
Yahoo News-Science Videos
I. Pre-listening Tasks
A. Vocabulary Prediction: (game)
Students’ choice
II. While Listening Task
A. Words in context- (Multiple Choice)
Transcript (only for the narrator): (By ESL Voices)
Narrator: Many of the attendees at the world’s biggest Arms Fair, are looking for something that can’t be seen. Because when it comes to waging war being invisible could be an advantage.
BAE systems is one company that’s developing an invisibility cloak. One designed to hide tanks helicopters and ships, from electronic detection devices.
(Peter Sjolund BAE representative)
Narrator: To achieve the cloaking, hexagonal panels can either radiate the temperature of the background environment or, alternatively, mimic another more common vehicle such as a car to fool their opponent.
Narrator: The ability to hide from the enemy has clear advantages in combat, but these invisibility panels also provide another advantage. The cloak can display identification tags to avoid friendly fire incidences common in active combat theaters.
(Multiple Choice)
Many of the attendees…are looking for something that can’t be seen.
b. people who attend a conference or other gathering.
Because when it comes to waging war being invisible could be an advantage.
a. carry on a war or campaign
3. … being invisible could be an advantage.
a. placed in a favorable or superior position
4. One designed to hide tanks helicopters and ships, from electronic detection devices.
c. the process of identifying the presence of something concealed
5. To achieve the cloaking, hexagonal panels can either radiate the temperature of the background environment…
a. emit, or give out
6. …or, alternatively, mimic another more common vehicle such as a car to fool their opponent.
c. imitate
7. …or, alternatively, mimic another more common vehicle such as a car to fool their opponent.
b. someone who competes against or fights another in a contest; battle
8. The ability to hide from the enemy has clear advantages in combat…
a. the capacity to do something
B. Questions for Comprehension
1. What was the purpose of the gathering? The Arms Fair,
2. What device was BAE developing? An Invisibility cloak.
3. What was the purpose of this device? To hide tanks helicopters and ships, from electronic detection devices.
4. Describe two ways the cloaking device works.
To achieve the cloaking, hexagonal panels can either radiate the temperature of the background environment or, alternatively, mimic another more common vehicle such as a car to fool their opponent.
III. Post-Listening Tasks
1. Make up four questions you would like to ask the BAE representative.
Students’ choice.
2. Did you agree with the idea of developing an invisibility cloak? Why or why not? Students’ choice.
3. Can you think of other uses for the cloaking device other than the ones mentioned? Describe them. Students’ choice.
One suggestion for the cloaking device might be to observe animals in their natural habitats. Researchers work hard to conceal themselves with the use of *blinds, bushes etc., so being invisible might help.
*blind noun a camouflaged shelter used by hunters to get close to wildlife : a duck blind.
Bonus Videos Just for Fun!
I. Video from Japan: Optical Camouflage (Invisible Cloak)
Possible Discussion Questions:
1. Can you guess how the student is causing these optical illusions?
2. Other than for entertainment, what other uses can you think of for these illusions?
II. Video Invisible’ Material Can Now Fool Your Eyes by N. Shachtman
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