The fake moon rock in a Dutch museum

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: The fake moon rock in a Dutch museum

Warm-up

Have you ever visited a museum? (Yes, I have visited...)

Vocabulary Match

celebrate •• covered
mission •• diplomat
unlikely •• plain
ambassador •• party
insured •• doubtful
nondescript •• trip

Vocabulary Answers

celebrateparty
missiontrip
unlikelydoubtful
ambassadordiplomat
insuredcovered
nondescriptplain

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

In 1969, the Dutch government received a special gift to ________ the first moon landing. It was supposed to be a moon rock given by the U.S. ________. The rock was given to the Rijksmuseum, a famous museum in the Netherlands, after the Dutch prime minister died in 1988.

In 2006, a space expert said it was ________ that NASA would give away moon rocks so soon after the Apollo ________. Scientists tested the rock and found out it was actually a piece of petrified wood.

A geologist said, "It's a ________, pretty much worthless stone." The museum had ________ it for $500,000 but now knows it's worth only about 50 euros. The museum decided to keep it because, "It's a good story, with some questions that are still unanswered."

In 1969, the Dutch government received a special gift to celebrate the first moon landing. It was supposed to be a moon rock given by the U.S. ambassador. The rock was given to the Rijksmuseum, a famous museum in the Netherlands, after the Dutch prime minister died in 1988.

In 2006, a space expert said it was unlikely that NASA would give away moon rocks so soon after the Apollo mission. Scientists tested the rock and found out it was actually a piece of petrified wood.

A geologist said, "It's a nondescript, pretty much worthless stone." The museum had insured it for $500,000 but now knows it's worth only about 50 euros. The museum decided to keep it because, "It's a good story, with some questions that are still unanswered."

Quiz

  1. When did the Dutch government receive the special gift?
  2. Who gave the supposed moon rock to the Rijksmuseum?
  3. What did scientists find out about the rock in 2006?
  4. How much did the museum insure the rock for?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. In 1969
  2. The U.S. ambassador
  3. It was a piece of petrified wood
  4. $500,000

True or False

  1. The rock was a special gift to celebrate the first Mars landing. T F
  2. A space expert said it was unlikely that NASA would give away moon socks. T F
  3. The museum decided to keep the rock. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. False
  3. True

Conversation

A:What are they saying about our moon rock?
B:Oh, get this, they found out it's not a moon rock at all.
A:Really? What is it then?
B:It's just a piece of petrified wood.
A:That's crazy! I can't believe it.
B:Well, at least it makes for a good story!

Discussion

  1. Do you think the museum should keep or remove the rock?
  2. Have you ever bought something fake, like a replica bag?
  3. What do you think of moon landing conspiracy theories?
  4. Would you like to go to the moon? What souvenir would you bring back?

Further Reading

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/moon-rock-at-dutch-museum-is-just-petrified-wood-1.788375

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