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Reading Worksheet

Six Months in Orbit

B2 Future Continuous: Activities in Progress at a Future Time Space and Science 25 minutes
Before You Read

Discuss these questions with a partner before you read.

  • Have you ever looked up at the night sky and thought about space? What do you find most interesting or surprising about it?
  • What do you think is the hardest part of living on a space station for six months?
  • Look at the title 'Six Months in Orbit'. What do you think the article will be about?
  • What do you already know about the International Space Station?
Key Vocabulary
Word Definition Example
microgravity (n.) the near-weightless conditions found in space She will be conducting experiments in microgravity.
crystallisation (n.) the process by which a substance forms crystals The experiment focuses on protein crystallisation.
spacewalk (n.) an activity carried out outside a spacecraft while in space She will be carrying out a spacewalk in March.
rehydrated (adj.) describing dried food that has had water added back to it She will be eating rehydrated turkey on Christmas Day.
rotate (v.) to turn around a central point She will be watching Earth rotate slowly below her.
simultaneous (adj.) happening at the same time Two events will be happening simultaneously during the mission.
Reading Text
Magazine Article ~300 words

Six Months in Orbit

In four months, Commander Yuki Tanaka will leave Earth and travel to the International Space Station. For six months, she will be living 400 kilometres above the planet, conducting research that could change our understanding of human biology. We asked her what she will be doing at key moments during her mission.

In January, while most people on Earth will be celebrating the New Year with fireworks and parties, Commander Tanaka will be conducting experiments on protein crystallisation in microgravity. Scientists believe that proteins form more perfect crystals in space, which could help in the development of new medicines. By February, she will be testing a new water recycling system designed to reduce waste on long space missions.

March brings the most challenging part of the mission. Commander Tanaka will be carrying out a spacewalk to repair a damaged solar panel. While her family will be sleeping in their home in Tokyo, she will be floating in open space, working with tools designed for gloved hands. 'It requires enormous concentration,' she says. 'One mistake can be serious.'

By May, she will be preparing for her return to Earth. This means re-learning how to walk, as her muscles will have weakened significantly after months in zero gravity. She will be exercising for up to two hours each day to rebuild her strength.

When asked about the holidays, Commander Tanaka smiles. 'I know exactly what I will be doing on Christmas Day,' she says. 'I will be eating rehydrated turkey and watching Earth rotate slowly below me. Millions of people will be opening presents with their families. I will be doing something rather different — and I would not change it for the world.'

Notice the Grammar

Look at the first paragraph of the article. Find two verbs that describe what Commander Tanaka will be doing in the future. What form are they? (e.g. 'will be + ___ing'). Why do you think the writer uses this form instead of just 'will + verb'?

1 Reading for Gist

Answer these questions in a few words.

  1. Who is the article about?
  2. Where will Commander Tanaka be going in four months?
  3. How long will her mission last?
2 Reading for Detail

Write short answers based on the article.

  1. What will Commander Tanaka be doing in January?
  2. What will she be testing in February?
  3. What will she be doing in March, and why is it challenging?
  4. Why will Commander Tanaka be exercising for up to two hours a day in May?  a) Because she will be preparing for a spacewalk. b) Because her muscles will have weakened after months in zero gravity. c) Because exercise helps with protein crystallisation research. 
  5. What will Commander Tanaka be eating on Christmas Day?
3 True, False, or Not Given

Write T (True), F (False), or NG (Not Given) for each statement.

  1. Commander Tanaka will leave for the International Space Station in four months.
  2. Commander Tanaka will be sleeping when her family is celebrating New Year.
  3. Commander Tanaka has completed a spacewalk on a previous mission.
  4. In May, Commander Tanaka will be preparing to return to Earth by rebuilding her strength.
  5. Protein crystals formed in space are always smaller than those formed on Earth.
4 Vocabulary in Context

Answer these questions about words from the article.

  1. In paragraph 2, 'microgravity' refers to:  a) A type of microscope used in space. b) The near-weightless conditions found in space. c) A method of measuring gravity on Earth. 
  2. The article says proteins form 'more perfect crystals' in space. What does this suggest about crystallisation in microgravity?
  3. Find a word in paragraph 3 that means 'extremely great or very large in amount'. 
  4. Commander Tanaka says she 'would not change it for the world'. What does this expression mean in your own words?
5 Grammar in Context

Complete these activities about the future continuous.

  1. Find four future continuous sentences from the article. Write them.
    a)  b)  c)  d) 
  2. The article says 'While most people will be celebrating New Year, Commander Tanaka will be conducting experiments.' What does this structure (while...will be...will be) show?
  3. Which sentence correctly uses the future continuous?  a) By next year, she will finish her training. b) At 9am tomorrow, she will be presenting her findings to the committee. c) She will be knowing the results soon. 
  4. Rewrite these sentences using the future continuous: (a) 'She conducts experiments in January.' → 'In January, she ___.' (b) 'He repairs the solar panel in March.' → 'In March, he ___.' (c) 'We sleep at midnight on New Year's Eve.' → 'At midnight on New Year's Eve, we ___.'
  5. Write three sentences about what you will be doing at these exact future moments: (a) at 9am tomorrow, (b) this time next year, (c) at midnight on New Year's Eve.
Personal Response — Discuss with a partner

Discuss these questions with a partner. Share one idea with the class.

  1. Would you want to spend six months on a space station? What would be the best and worst parts?
  2. Commander Tanaka says she 'would not change it for the world'. Is there something in your life you feel that way about? What is it?
  3. Scientists hope that research done in microgravity will help develop new medicines. Do you think space exploration is worth the cost? Why or why not?

Answer Key

Six Months in Orbit — B2 — Future Continuous: Activities in Progress at a Future Time

Exercise 1 — Reading for Gist

  1. Commander Yuki Tanaka, an astronaut.
  2. To the International Space Station.
  3. Six months.

Exercise 2 — Reading for Detail

  1. She will be conducting experiments on protein crystallisation in microgravity.
  2. A new water recycling system.
  3. She will be carrying out a spacewalk to repair a solar panel. It requires enormous concentration and one mistake can be serious.
  4. b)
  5. Rehydrated turkey.

Exercise 3 — True, False, or Not Given

  1. T — The article states directly: 'In four months, Commander Yuki Tanaka will leave Earth and travel to the International Space Station.'
  2. F — The article says she will be conducting experiments — not sleeping — while her family will be celebrating.
  3. NG — The article does not mention any previous missions or spacewalks.
  4. T — The article says 'she will be exercising for up to two hours each day to rebuild her strength' in May.
  5. F — The article says proteins form 'more perfect' crystals in space, not smaller ones.

Exercise 4 — Vocabulary in Context

  1. b)
  2. Microgravity allows crystals to form more evenly or without defects, which may be useful for medicine.
  3. enormous
  4. She would not swap her experience for anything — she values it more than anything else.

Exercise 5 — Grammar in Context

  1. Any four sentences using 'will be + -ing' from the article, e.g. 'She will be conducting experiments on protein crystallisation in microgravity.' / 'She will be testing a new water recycling system.' / 'She will be carrying out a spacewalk to repair a damaged solar panel.' / 'She will be eating rehydrated turkey and watching Earth rotate slowly below me.'
  2. It shows two activities happening at the same time in the future — both are in progress simultaneously.
  3. b)
  4. (a) In January, she will be conducting experiments. (b) In March, he will be repairing the solar panel. (c) At midnight on New Year's Eve, we will be sleeping.
  5. Answers will vary. Answers will vary. Check: will be + -ing. All three should refer to activities in progress at a specific future time, no

Notice the Grammar — suggested answers

Accept any five correct examples from the article that use the target grammar. Students should be able to explain why the grammar is used in each case.

Personal Response

Answers will vary. This section is for spoken discussion or short written response. There are no single correct answers.