Science & fieldwork · News English
Scottish rocks help scientists study Mars
A research team looks for clues in old rocks on Earth.
Your goal: practise the past simple.
A trip to the Scottish coast
Why did the team study rocks on Earth?
1NASA scientists visited the Scottish Highlands this summer. On 29 September, NASA reported on their work. The team studied old rocks near the coast to help understand the history of Mars. They worked on Earth, not on another planet.
2The rocks formed in places like ancient lakes and rivers on Mars. They also contain evidence of very old, tiny living things on Earth. This makes them useful for comparison. Scientists can study Earth rocks closely and use what they learn when they examine information from Mars.
3The team carried instruments along the coast and collected pieces of rock. They checked the water level carefully. At high tide, some places were difficult to reach. They planned their visits so they could work and leave safely.
4Some rocks have small grey-green spots. These can be signs of old living things, but other processes can make them too. A spot alone is not proof of life. Back in laboratories, the scientists can use more powerful equipment to study their samples. Their research may help them plan future investigations on Mars.
Original teaching summary. Language examples and models are illustrative, not news quotations.
Word help · Three useful words
Read the meanings and examples. Choose one word to use in your own sentence.
clue
information that helps you understand something
The mark was a clue.
sample
a small piece used for a test
They collected a rock sample.
tide
the regular rise and fall of sea water
The beach is smaller at high tide.
Check your reading · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Useful English: the past simple
Use the past simple for finished actions: They visited Scotland. They collected samples. For carry, change y to i: carried. A past date helps make the time clear.
Say two things you did yesterday. Use visited, watched, studied or helped.
Model and help
Model: Yesterday, I studied English. I helped a friend.
Alone: repeat without reading. Tutor: ask for one more example.
Speak: your ideas
Explain the team’s trip in three steps: where they went, what they collected and why they did it. Speak for 45 seconds.
Labelled model answer
The team visited the Scottish coast. They collected rock samples. They wanted to understand rocks and information from Mars.
This model is an illustrative learning example, not a news quotation.
Alone: record yourself or repeat once. Tutor: Why was the water level important?
Mastery check · Three questions
Choose one answer for every question, then check. You can change an answer and check again.
Sources and reporting date
Original source date: 29 September 2026. Original article:published_time metadata matches the visible 29 September 2026, 11:04AM date. UTC offset -04:00 verified.
- NASA: In Scotland, NASA Scientists Search for Clues About Mars’ Past
Original report: 29 September 2026. Original article:published_time metadata matches the visible 29 September 2026, 11:04AM date. UTC offset -04:00 verified.