Lesson 1 – Life As An Astronaut

Warm-up

An astronaut is a person who goes up into space on a shuttle. Some astronauts work on the International Space Station.

Think about what an astronaut’s life is like – how is life in space different from life on earth? What do you think astronauts do with their time?

Pre-Learn Vocabulary

claustrophobia (n.) = fear of small, limited spaces. “Claustrophobia” describes the condition, and “claustrophobic” (adj.) describes a person who feels scared and uncomfortable in small spaces

Ex) My sister doesn’t like to ride elevators because she’s claustrophobic.

bulky (adj.) = large and inconvenient, something that takes up too much space

Ex) In the past, cell phones were so bulky that they couldn’t fit in your pocket easily.

disembark (v.) = get off of a ship, plane, or train

Ex) After three days at sea, the passengers disembarked from the cruise ship.

dehydrated (adj.) = without water (for example, food after being dried out and the water removed)

Ex) Dehydrated foods can last for many months without needing to be refrigerated.

sip (v.) = to drink something slowly, in small portions.

Ex) He sipped a glass of wine as he relaxed after work.

germs (n.) = bacteria, tiny organisms that make you sick

Ex) You should cover your mouth when you sneeze, to avoid spreading germs.

conundrums (n.) = complex problems or difficulties

Ex) The issue of illegal immigration is a real conundrum; politicians have tried to solve it for years without success.

filter (v.) = make something (like air or water) pure and clean by removing dirt and contaminants

Ex) The water here is of poor quality; you must filter it before drinking.

onboard (adj.) = on a ship, plane, or train

Ex) All airplanes must have an onboard first aid kit.

susceptible (adj.) = vulnerable, unprotected (especially against disease – if you are “susceptible” to a disease, you are likely to become sick)

Ex) If not properly cleaned and covered, cuts are susceptible to infection.

treadmill (n.) = a type of exercise machine where you walk/run on a moving belt

Ex) It was raining, so I stayed inside and ran ten miles on the treadmill.

Now try the listening activities below!