Science & Technology
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24 Sept 2026
Credit: Martti Pärssinen
Lost Amazonian Cities Discovered Under Jungle Canopy
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
WARM UP
Section: Warm Up
Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?
a) A lost robot in a river
b) Hidden old cities under jungle trees
c) A giant space rocket
Ask:
(1) Have you ever been to a big forest or park?
(2) Do you like looking at maps?
VOCABULARY
forest (/fɒr.ɪst/, noun)
Meaning: A large area of land covered with many trees.
Example: Monkeys live high up in the green forest.
laser (/leɪ.zər/, noun)
Meaning: A strong beam of special light used in technology.
Example: The scientist uses a red laser to measure distances.
hidden (/hɪd.ən/, adjective)
Meaning: Kept out of sight so nobody can see it.
Example: The children found a hidden toy in the garden.
city (/sɪt.i/, noun)
Meaning: A large town where many people live and work.
Example: London is a famous and busy city.
discover (/dɪˈskʌv.ər/, verb)
Meaning: To find or learn about something for the first time.
Example: We discover a cute bird in our back garden.
house (/haʊs/, noun)
Meaning: A building that people live in with their families.
Example: My friend lives in a small yellow house.
map (/mæp/, noun)
Meaning: A drawing that shows where places and roads are.
Example: We look at the map to find the park.
Scientists are exploring a very large forest. It is the Amazon rainforest in South America. Millions of tall green trees grow in this place. Today, clever scientists are using a new tool. They are flying airplanes over the trees. Special laser lights shine down from the planes. The light beams pass through the thick leaves. They reach the dark ground below.
The lasers are showing something incredible. Ancient hidden cities sit beneath the trees! Old roads, round houses, and big plazas exist under the dirt. In the past, many families live and farm in these settlements. The trees now cover the old buildings. Nobody can see the houses from the sky.
With the lasers, scientists are drawing a detailed map of the ground. The map reveals where people build homes and grow food. Today, researchers are studying these ancient ruins. They are learning how people live in the jungle. The Amazon forest holds amazing secrets.
LIDAR can be used to create 3D maps of the ground, revealing the dents in the landscape left behind by ancient buildings - Credit: Martti Pärssinen
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What do scientists find in the Amazon forest?
2. How do lasers help scientists see under the trees?
3. Would you like to explore an ancient hidden city? Why?
4. What do people build in the Amazon long ago?
5. Why is the Amazon forest so important for our world?
FILL IN THE GAPS
FILL THE GAPS
Section 1: Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank: forest, hidden, laser, map
Scientists are exploring a very large _______(1). It is the Amazon rainforest in South America. Millions of tall green trees grow in this place. Today, clever scientists are using a new tool. They are flying airplanes over the trees. Special _______(2) lights shine down from the planes. The light beams pass through the thick leaves. They reach the dark ground below.
The lasers are showing something incredible. Ancient _______(3) cities sit beneath the trees! Old roads, round houses, and big plazas exist under the dirt. In the past, many families live and farm in these settlements. The trees now cover the old buildings. Nobody can see the houses from the sky.
With the lasers, scientists are drawing a detailed _______(4) of the ground. The map reveals where people build homes and grow food. Today, researchers are studying these ancient ruins. They are learning how people live in the jungle. The Amazon forest holds amazing secrets.
Section 2: Main Idea
What is the main idea of this story?
a) Scientists find old cities under Amazon trees with lasers.
b) Airplanes are flying to big cities in South America.
c) Trees are growing inside new houses.
UNDERSTANDING
Section 3: True or False
1. Scientists are using lasers from airplanes. T/F
2. The Amazon forest is in North America. T/F
3. People live in hidden settlements long ago. T/F
Section 4: Put Events in Order
A. Lasers pass through leaves to scan the dark ground.
B. Researchers discover ancient houses and roads under dirt.
C. Scientists fly airplanes over the Amazon forest.
LANGUAGE
Section 5: Vocab Match
1. forest
2. laser
3. hidden
4. city
5. map
a. A drawing that shows where places are
b. Kept out of sight
c. A large area with many trees
d. A large town where people live
e. A strong light beam used in technology
USE IT
Section 6: Discussion Builder
1. Scientists use a _______ to see through trees.
a) camera
b) laser
c) flashlight
2. A detailed _______ shows where houses sit under dirt.
a) book
b) map
c) painting
Section 7: Sentence Unscramble
1. Put the sentence in order: [A] a very [B] forest [C] Scientists [D] large [E] are exploring
2. Put the sentence in order: [A] the [B] Ancient hidden [C] trees [D] cities sit [E] beneath
ANSWER KEY
Warm Up Answer: b) Hidden old cities under jungle trees
Section 1 Answers: (1) forest, (2) laser, (3) hidden, (4) map
Section 2 Answer: a
Section 3 Answers: 1. T, 2. F, 3. T
Section 4 Answers: C, A, B
Section 5 Answers: 1-c, 2-e, 3-b, 4-d, 5-a
Section 6 Answers: 1-b, 2-b
Section 7 Answers: 1. C-E-A-D-B, 2. B-D-E-A-C
Section 8 Sample Answers: 1. They find old hidden cities and roads. 2. Lasers pass through leaves to scan the ground. 3. Yes, because I like finding secret places. 4. They build houses, plazas, and walking paths. 5. It has many green trees and secret history.
Thank you for your feedback!