Casa ESL · B2 Upper Intermediate · Unit 17 of 20 · Step 2
Scientific discovery and distancing language
Name
Date
Vocabulary
hypothesis
nounA proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for investigation.
"The hypothesis that water exists on Mars has gained increasing support."
orbit
nounThe curved path of a celestial object around a star, planet, or moon.
"The satellite has been in orbit around Earth for over a decade."
extraterrestrial
adjectiveOf or from outside the Earth or its atmosphere.
"Scientists continue to search for extraterrestrial life."
habitable
adjectiveSuitable or good enough to live in or on.
"The newly discovered planet appears to be in the habitable zone of its star."
propulsion
nounThe action of driving or pushing forward.
"New propulsion technologies could dramatically reduce travel time to Mars."
speculate
verbTo form a theory without firm evidence.
"Researchers speculate that the signal may have originated from a distant galaxy."
celestial
adjectiveRelating to the sky or outer space.
"Ancient civilisations tracked celestial bodies with remarkable precision."
unprecedented
adjectiveNever done or known before.
"The mission achieved an unprecedented level of precision in its measurements."
Grammar Focus
Distancing language
Distancing language allows speakers and writers to report information without committing to its truth. Common strategies: adverbs ('apparently', 'supposedly', 'allegedly'), impersonal constructions ('it seems/appears that', 'it is thought/believed/reported that'), passive with infinitive ('is thought to be', 'is believed to have been'). These are especially common in academic and journalistic writing.
Apparently, the mission encountered unexpected difficulties during re-entry.
It seems that the probe detected traces of organic compounds.
The planet is thought to contain large reserves of frozen water.
The signal is believed to have originated from a source beyond our galaxy.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Rewrite each sentence using distancing language. Write only the missing phrase.
1. People believe that the universe is expanding faster than predicted. → The universe expanding faster than predicted.
2. Reports say the rover found evidence of ancient rivers. → The rover found evidence of ancient rivers.
3. It seems likely that the asteroid will miss Earth. → , the asteroid will miss Earth.
4. Scientists think the planet may support life. → The planet support life.
5. People say the space agency lost contact with the probe. → The space agency lost contact with the probe.
Exercise 2
Choose the best way to distance the speaker from the claim.
1. The comet ___ contain rare minerals.
2. ___, the launch has been delayed by two weeks.
3. The signal ___ originated from deep space.
4. ___ the mission will cost more than originally estimated.
5. The astronaut ___ experienced equipment failure during the spacewalk.
Reading
Life Beyond Earth
The search for extraterrestrial life is thought to be one of humanity's greatest scientific endeavours. For decades, astronomers have scanned the cosmos for signals that might indicate intelligent civilisations. In recent years, several exoplanets have been identified in what is known as the habitable zone — the region around a star where conditions are believed to allow liquid water. One planet in particular, discovered orbiting a red dwarf star approximately forty light-years away, is reported to have an atmosphere containing water vapour. Scientists speculate that this could be a promising sign, though they caution that much remains unknown. Apparently, the planet's surface temperature may be too extreme for life as we understand it. It seems that our definition of 'habitable' may need to expand as we learn more about the resilience of microbial organisms on Earth itself — creatures that thrive in boiling springs, frozen lakes, and even the vacuum of space. Whether or not we find life beyond Earth, the search is believed to have already transformed our understanding of biology, chemistry, and what it means to exist.
1. What is significant about the planet discovered forty light-years away?
2. Why might our definition of 'habitable' need to change?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a news report (8–10 sentences) about a fictional space discovery. Use at least four distancing structures (e.g., 'is believed to', 'apparently', 'it seems that', 'is reported to have').
Example: A new signal has been detected from a distant star system. The signal is believed to be artificial in origin. It is reported to have been first picked up by a radio telescope in Chile. Apparently, the signal repeats at regular intervals, which is thought to rule out natural causes.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. is believed to be · 2. is reported to have · 3. Apparently · 4. is thought to · 5. is said to have
Exercise 2
1. is thought to · 2. Apparently · 3. is believed to have · 4. It seems that · 5. is said to have
Reading Comprehension
1. The planet is reported to have an atmosphere containing water vapour and orbits within the habitable zone of its star, making it a promising candidate for further study. · 2. It seems that organisms on Earth can thrive in extreme conditions — boiling springs, frozen lakes, and even the vacuum of space — suggesting life could exist in environments previously thought impossible.