Earth 101
Transcript
Earth, the only planet known to maintain life.
A product of scientific phenomena and sheer chance.
This blue speck in space holds the past, present, and future, of our very existence.
Approximately 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth formed from particles left over from the creation of our sun.
Gravity drew these particles together to form pebbles which then formed boulders, and eventually, the Earth.
At its heart is a solid inner core covered by a liquid outer core.
Above this sits the mantle, made of flowing silicate rocks, and a rocky crust.
This rocky mass is the third planet from the sun, orbiting the star from an average distance of about 93 million miles.
It’s close enough to the sun to be warm unlike the cold gas giants.
But not so close that its surface is exposed to extreme heat and solar radiation as is the case with Mercury.
Earth’s unique position in the solar system allows it to house phenomena yet to be found anywhere else in the universe, particularly liquid surface water and life.
According to one theory, much of Earth’s water is as old as its rocks, both of which having formed during the Earth’s earliest days.
Because of Earth’s unique distance from the sun, the planet is able to contain water in all of its forms, liquid, ice and gas rather than have them permanently frozen or evaporated into space.
But Earth is the only known place in the universe with liquid water on the surface, thereby having unique cascading effects on the planet.
It hydrates the land helping create nutrient-rich soil.
It collects and pools to form oceans and freshwater systems.
And it cycles upward to add moisture to Earth’s protective atmosphere.
And where there is liquid water, there is life.
About 3.8 billion years ago in Earth’s oceans primitive life existed in the form of microbial organisms.
They and the ensuing billions of years gave rise to a range of more advanced life forms that survived in Earth’s seas, lands and skies.
As the only world known to harbor life, Earth’s biodiversity is expansive in nature.
An estimated 1.5 million species of plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and others have been cataloged with potentially millions, if not billions more yet to be discovered.
Home to life and fueled by water, Earth houses a unique global ecosystem as curious and as grand as the astronomical events that made them possible.
Vocabulary List
sheer
(adjective) nothing except; used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of something
speck
(noun) a very small, insignificant piece or amount of something
pebble
(noun) a small, smooth stone
boulder
(noun) a large, rounded rock
core
(noun) the central or innermost part of something
mantle
(noun) the layer of hot, solid rock that surrounds the core of the Earth
crust
(noun) the outermost layer of the Earth
rocky
(adjective) made of rock
evaporate
(verb) to change from a liquid to a gas
thereby
(adverb) as a result of; because of this
cascading effect
(noun) an unforeseen chain of events that occurs when an event has an impact on others
hydrate
(verb) to make something/somebody take in and hold water
nutrient
(noun) a substance that provides nourishment to a living organism
pool
(verb) to gather or collect in a pool or puddle
freshwater
(noun) water that does not contain salt
moisture
(noun) water vapor in the air or on a surface
protective
(adjective) providing or intended to provide protection
microbial
(adjective) relating to or caused by microorganisms
ensuing
(adjective) following or happening as a result
give rise to
(verb) to cause or be the origin of something
advanced
(adjective) having a high level of development or complexity
harbor
(verb) to provide a safe place for someone or something to exist, stay or operate
expansive
(adjective) large or extensive in size or scope
catalog
(verb) to make a list of something
fuel
(verb) to supply a system with a substance that can be burned to provide heat or power
house
(verb) to provide a home for someone or something
Grammar Point
In this lesson, we will :
– identify determiners used in the video,
– identify the types of those determiners,
– how they are used in the sentences.
Determiners are words that are placed in front nouns and specify something about their:
– quantity (how many/much)
– proximity (how far/close)
– ownership (who the owner is)
– definiteness (whether a noun is definite or not)
Grammar patterns of determiners:
– determiner + noun
– determiner + noun phrase
Earth, the only planet known to maintain life.
the = article
only planet = noun phrase
We use “the” for something that is definite.
A product of scientific phenomena and sheer chance.
a = article
product = singular noun
We use “a” for something that is not definite or something that we mention for the first time in speech or writing.
We can only use “a” with singular nouns.
This blue speck in space holds the past, present, and future, of our very existence.
this = demonstrative determiner
blue speck = singular noun phrase
We use “this” to describe something that is close in distance or time.
We can only use “this” with singular nouns.
Approximately 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth formed from particles left over from the creation of our sun.
our = possessive determiner
sun = noun
We use “our” to describe something that is owned by the subject “we.”
Gravity drew these particles together to form pebbles which then formed boulders, and eventually, the Earth.
these = demonstrative determiners
particles = plural noun
We use “these” to describe things that are close in distance or time.
We can only use “these” with plural nouns.
At its heart is a solid inner core covered by a liquid outer core.
its = possessive determiner
heart = noun
We use “its” to describe something that is owned by the subject “it” (which in this case is the earth)
This rocky mass is the third planet from the sun, orbiting the star from an average distance of about 93 million miles.
an = article
average distance = singular noun phrase
We use “an” for something that is not definite or something that we mention for the first time in speech or writing.
We can only use “an” with singular nouns.
According to one theory, much of Earth’s water is as old as its rocks, both of which having formed during the Earth’s earliest days.
much = quantifier
Earth’s water = uncountable noun
We use “much” to indicate the quantity of something.
We can only use “much” with uncountable nouns.
Because of Earth’s unique distance from the sun, the planet is able to contain water in all of its forms, liquid, ice and gas rather than have them permanently frozen or evaporated into space.
all = quantifier
its forms = plural noun phrase
We use “all” to indicate the whole number or amount of something.
We can use “all” with:
– plural nouns
– uncountable nouns
We CANNOT use “all” with singular nouns.
About 3.8 billion years ago in Earth’s oceans primitive life existed in the form of microbial organisms.
3.8 billion = numbers
years = plural noun
All numbers are determiners and indicate the quantity of something.
We use numbers more/larger than one with plural nouns.
Common Expressions
at something’s heart/ at the heart of something
At its heart is a solid inner core covered by a liquid outer core.
The phrase “at the heart of something” means the most important part of something.
Examples:
– The story, at its heart, is a simple tale of loss and rediscovery.
– Buddhism, at the heart, is about harmony.
in nature
As the only world known to harbor life, Earth’s biodiversity is expansive in nature.
The phrase “in nature” means the basic or main characteristics of something.
Examples:
– The problem is delicate in nature.
– My work is very specialized in nature.