• ☐ ☐ ☐ terminal [adj] - dying
• ☐ ☐ ☐ collapse [v] - fall down, crumple
• ☐ ☐ ☐ explode [v] - burst violently and noisily
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a black hole [n] - a region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape
• ☐ ☐ ☐ massive [adj] - very big
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a let-up [n] - a period when something happens with less strength or intensity
• ☐ ☐ ☐ antimatter [n] - the opposite of regular matter
• ☐ ☐ ☐ one go [n] - one event
• ☐ ☐ ☐ let out [phv] - release
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a blip [n] - an unexpected, minor event that is different from the general trend
• ☐ ☐ ☐ death throes [exp] - the final stage before something ends/dies

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb, [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

1. What is a supernova?
   a type of black hole
   the final explosion of a dying star
   a very large sun
   
   
2. What usually happens to a star when it comes to the end of its life?
   It collapses into a black hole.
   It changes into a planet.
   It explodes into a supernova.
   
   
3. How much energy is released in a supernova explosion?
   the same amount of energy in 100 million suns
   the same amount of energy that is in Earth's sun
   the same amount of energy in 2 suns
   
   
4. What is unusual about this supernova?
   Scientist were able to see it easily.
   It exploded very suddenly.
   It took longer to explode than most supernovas.
   
   
5. How long do supernovas usually last?
   60 days
   100 days
   600 days
   
   
6. How long did this supernova last?
   60 days
   100 days
   600 days
   
   
7. What do scientists think was unusual about this star that went supernova?
   It was very big.
   It was very small
   It was very hot.
   It was very cold.
   
   
8. What do scientists think happened in the core of this star?
   It released extra energy.
   It collapsed.
   It produced anti-matter.
   
   
9. What does a star turn into after a supernova?
   a planet
   a neutron star
   a black hole
   
   
10. What happened 50 years ago?
    The same star had an explosion.
    A similar type of supernova occurred.
    Scientists first discovered supernovas.
    
    
11. How long might have this star been exploding?
    5 years
    15 years
    60 years
    
    

1. What is the discussion mainly about?
   (A) A supernova that is following an unusual pattern.
   (B) The amount of energy in a supernova.
   (C) The differences between a black hole and supernova.
   (D) How scientists observe supernovas.
   
   
2. What two things can happen when a star dies?
   [Click on two answers.]
   (A) It can explode into a supernova.
   (B) It can join another supernova.
   (C) It can turn into a new planet.
   (D) It can collapse into a black hole.
   
   
3. What is the difference between a supernova and a black hole?
   (A) A supernova is formed when a star explodes, while a black hole is formed when a star collapses.
   (B) A black hole is formed when a star explodes, while a supernova is formed when a star collapses.
   (C) A black hole is much bigger than a supernova.
   (D) A black hole releases much more energy than a supernova.
   
   
4. What does the woman suggest when she says this?
   
   (A) This event may force scientist to change the way they observe supernovas.
   (B) This event may be difficult to prove scientifically.
   (C) This event may cause scientists to re-evaluate their theories about supernovas.
   (D) The scientist doing this research may have made many mistakes.
   
   
5. What does the scientist mean when he says this?
   
   (A) It is expensive to do this type of research.
   (B) It is difficult to know if this event is truly unusual.
   (C) The current equipment scientists have is not good enough.
   (D) Most scientists will find this event hard to believe.
   
   
6. Why does the scientist think that this supernova may have been releasing energy for many years?
   (A) Scientist saw an explosion from this star 50 years ago.
   (B) The star has been visible in the sky for many years.
   (C) The supernova is about 50 light-years away from the Earth.
   (D) Scientists have been able to measure the age of the light from the star.
   
   
7. According to the scientist, which of these statements is true for typical supernovas?
   [Click on three answers.]
   (A) They release a lot of energy quickly.
   (B) They are difficult to detect.
   (C) They become neutron stars.
   (D) They last about 100 days.
   (E) They rarely occur in our galaxy.
   (F) They usually happen at night.
   
   
8. According to the scientist, which of these statements is true for this specific supernova?
   [Click on four answers.]
   (A) It is visible in the sky.
   (B) It is lasting longer than usual.
   (C) It likely produced antimatter.
   (D) It came from a very large star.
   (E) It formed close to a black hole.
   (F) It is very hot.
   
   

1. Have you seen any unusual phenomenon in the sky (an eclipse, a shooting star, a comet)? When? Can you describe what it looked like?
2. What facts or theories that you learned in high school or university have changed now?
3. When we look through a telescope at stars and other things in space, we are seeing light from many years ago. Is it worth observing space if we are actually observing what it was like many years ago? Why?
4. How much should research focused on issues on Earth (for example climate change) be prioritised over space research?
5. If we found a habitable planet that already had life on it, would we have a right to move there? If the life was intelligent, would you change your opinion?