Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 47 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 10: The Future and Final Review

Will we live on Mars?

Space agencies and companies talk about sending people to Mars, but the challenges are enormous. Learn to talk about actions in progress and actions completed at a future time with the future continuous and the future perfect.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Space and Mars

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Have you ever looked at the stars?
  2. Would you like to travel into space?
  3. What do you know about Mars?
  4. Do you think there is life on other planets?
  5. Which country do you think will send people to Mars?
  6. What would you miss on Earth?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about space.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Mars is a in our solar system, smaller than the Earth.
  2. A vehicle that carries things into space is a .
  3. The force that pulls things towards a planet is called .
  4. The layer of gases around a planet is its .
  5. The people who work on a spacecraft are its .
  6. Humans need to breathe.
  7. A small vehicle that drives on the surface of Mars is a .
  8. Companies plan to a new rocket next year.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. a planet goes around a
  2. gravity = the force that
  3. an atmosphere = the
  4. a crew = the people who
  5. to launch = to
  6. a challenge = something
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to talk about the far future.

  • This time next year,...Цього часу наступного року,...This time next year, I'll be working at a new job.
  • By 2040,...До 2040 року,...By 2040, scientists will have sent a crew to Mars.
  • Will have + done by...Зробить/встигне до...They will have built a base by then.
  • I'll be -ingЯ буду (в процесі)...In ten years, I'll be living in a different city.
  • At this time tomorrow,...Завтра цього часу,...At this time tomorrow, the crew will be flying.
  • It will take...Це забере...It will take about seven months to reach Mars.
  • It's unlikely that...Малоймовірно, що...It's unlikely that people will live there soon.
  • It remains to be seen...Побачимо...It remains to be seen whether it will happen.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Life on Mars

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Will we live on Mars?

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, and it is one of the most studied objects in space. The first robot rovers landed there in the 1990s, and several have explored the surface since, including NASA's Perseverance, which arrived in 2021 with a small helicopter. No human has been to Mars so far.

A trip would be long. Depending on the positions of the planets, the journey takes about seven to nine months, and the distance changes from about 55 million kilometres to about 400 million. The crew would be away from home for years, and it would be impossible to send help quickly.

Living there would be a huge challenge. The atmosphere is thin and consists mainly of carbon dioxide, so people could not breathe it. The average temperature is far below freezing, gravity is only about 38 per cent of that of the Earth, and there is more radiation than on our planet.

Some space agencies and companies say that crewed missions may take place in the 2030s or 2040s, but such dates have often been moved. Scientists say that by 2040 they will probably have learned much more, but nobody can promise a settlement.

Imagine the year 2050. Some people will be preparing the next rocket, others will be studying the data, and perhaps a few astronauts will already have walked on the surface.

Would you go if you had the chance?

3.2

True or false?

  1. No human has been to Mars so far.
  2. The journey takes a few days.
  3. People could breathe the atmosphere of Mars.
  4. The text says mission dates have sometimes been moved.
  5. The text promises that a settlement will exist by 2040.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Is it worth spending money on Mars when Earth has problems?
  2. Who should own the planets: nobody, everybody or companies?
  3. What would the first year on Mars be like?
  4. Would you stay on Mars for the rest of your life?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Future continuous

Will be + -ing is used for an action in progress at a certain time in the future. It is also used for plans that are already fixed.

This time next year, I'll be working at a new job. At this time tomorrow, the crew will be flying. In 2050, scientists will be studying the data.

Future perfect

Will have + past participle is used for an action that will be finished before a certain time. Use by or by the time.

By 2040, scientists will have learned much more. They will have built a base by then. By the time we arrive, the rocket will have landed.

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

future forms (L46)

Common mistakes: will be + -ing for an action in progress, will have + past participle for an action finished by then, and by for the deadline. ✗ By 2040, we will live on Mars → By 2040, we will have built a base / we may be living there. ✗ This time next year I will to work → I will be working.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. This time next year, I
    at a new job.
  2. By 2040, scientists
    much more.
  3. At this time tomorrow, the crew
    to the station.
  4. They
    a base by then.
  5. In 2050, some people
    the data.
  6. By the time we arrive, the rocket
    .
  7. Next Monday at ten, I
    an exam.
  8. Next year, I
    here for ten years.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. By 2040, we will live on Mars. →
  2. This time next year I will to work abroad. →
  3. By the time we arrive, they already will leave. →
  4. At this time tomorrow I will fly to Rome. →
  5. She will has finished by Friday. →
  6. In 2050, I will have been work in a lab. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the future continuous and the future perfect.

  1. What will you be doing this time tomorrow?
  2. What will you have done by the end of this year?
  3. Where do you think you will be living in 2040?
  4. What will you have achieved by the time you are fifty?
  5. What will people be doing in space in the future?
  6. By the time you retire, how will the world have changed?
5

Three views on Mars and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on Mars

Three people talk about Mars. Compare their views. Who is the most excited? Who is the most careful? Would you go if you were asked?

Person 1

Dr Ortiz, 48

  • Works for a space agency
  • Says an uncrewed mission will come first
  • Believes data will have improved by 2040
  • Is careful about dates
Person 2

Leo, 16

  • Dreams of being an astronaut
  • Hopes he'll be training in ten years
  • Says he will have studied physics by then
  • Wants to see Mars
Person 3

Mrs Kaur, 62

  • Thinks Earth needs the money
  • Says it will have been a waste
  • Prefers to be walking on a beach
  • Admits it is exciting
5.2

Mini-talk: a day in the future

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a day in the future (future continuous): what will you be doing?
  3. Part 2: say what will have happened by a certain year (future perfect).
  4. Part 3: give your opinion about the future of space travel.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What will you be doing this time next week?
  2. What will you have done by the end of this month?
  3. Do you think you will be living in the same place in five years?
  4. What will you have achieved by next year?
  5. Would you like to go into space?
  6. What will you be doing this weekend?
  7. How will you have changed by the time you are fifty?
  8. Would you take a one-way ticket to Mars?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who will you be seeing tomorrow?
  2. Who will have retired by next year?
  3. Who do you think will be the first person on Mars?
  4. Who will you be travelling with next time?
  5. Who in your family will have finished school by next year?
  6. Who would you take to Mars?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Will humans live on other planets?
  2. Will space travel become cheap?
  3. Will robots have explored the whole solar system by 2100?
  4. Should we look for life on other planets?
  5. Will the Earth be a good place to live in 2100?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Predicting the future

You

Speaker

A journalist (your teacher) asks about life in 2050:
  • say what people will be doing
  • say what will have changed
  • say what will not have changed
  • give your view
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use the future continuous and the future perfect.
Your teacher

Journalist

Says things like:
  1. What will life be like?
  2. What will have changed?
  3. Will people be happier?
  4. Will we live on Mars?
7.2

Applying to be an astronaut

You

Candidate

An officer (your teacher) interviews you for a mission to Mars:
  • say what you will have done before the mission
  • say what you will be doing there
  • say how you will deal with problems
  • say why you should be chosen
You do most of the talking. Use: By then, I will have... · I will be -ing... · I'll have + past participle
Your teacher

Officer

Says things like:
  1. Why do you want to go?
  2. What will you be doing?
  3. What if you're afraid?
  4. Thank you.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

planetrocketgravityatmospherecrewoxygenroverlaunch
  1. Mars is a in our solar system, smaller than the Earth.
  2. A vehicle that carries things into space is a .
  3. The force that pulls things towards a planet is called .
  4. The layer of gases around a planet is its .
  5. The people who work on a spacecraft are its .
  6. Humans need to breathe.
  7. A small vehicle that drives on the surface of Mars is a .
  8. Companies plan to a new rocket next year.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. This time next week, I on a beach.
  2. By Friday, I the report.
  3. At ten tomorrow, she .
  4. By 2030, the city a new bridge.
  5. By the time you arrive, we .
  6. Next year, they here for a decade.
  7. At this time tomorrow, I .
  8. In 2050, people new technology.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. This time next year, I'll be working at a new job.
  2. This time next year I will to work abroad.
  3. By 2040, scientists will have learned much more.
  4. By the time we arrive, they already will leave.
  5. At this time tomorrow, the crew will be flying.
  6. She will has finished by Friday.
  7. They will have built a base by then.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. This time next year,
  2. By 2040,
  3. At this time tomorrow,
  4. They will have
  5. By the time we arrive,
  6. It will take
  7. It remains to be seen

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.