LET'S DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT
This term we're going to work with contents in relation to ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION.
VOCABULARY
Now, let's see a presentation with words related to this topic.
Next, we're going to do some exercises to practice this vocabulary:
Now, let's read a text about this topic:
Topics for discussion and essay-writing
Now, let's read a text about this topic:
WATER, AIR AND SOIL CONTAMINATION
Pollution is an environmental concern for people throughout the world. One university study suggests that pollutants in the water, air, and soil cause up to 40% of the premature deaths in the world's population. The majority of these deaths occur in developing countries.
Water in many third world countries is contaminated with toxic chemicals, also known as toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1.1 billion people have little or no access to clean water. In many of these regions the water that is used for drinking, cooking, and washing is the same water that is used for dumping sewage andhazardous waste. Most developing countries cannot afford water treatment facilities. Approximately 80% of infectious diseases in the world are caused by contaminated water.
Air pollution is a growing problem throughout the world. Indoor air pollution is one of the leading causes of lung cancer. Families in developing countries use open stoves for cooking and heating their homes. These homes do not have proper ventilation. The smoke, which is full of chemicals and carcinogens, gets trapped inside where families eat and sleep. Outdoor pollution also causes disease and illness, especially in industrial cities such as Beijing, China, where cancer is the leading cause of death. China relies heavily on coal, which is considered the dirtiest source of energy. According to the European Union, only 1% of urban dwellers in China breathe clean air on an average day. Neighbouring countries including Japan and Korea receive much of China's pollution in the form of acid rain. This pollution results mainly from the coal powered factories, which produce inexpensive goods for North American and European consumers. Outdoor air pollution is also a concern in many wealthy countries. Those who live and work in urban centres such as Los Angeles or Toronto experience many warm days beneath a layer of smog.
Soil pollution is also a major concern, both in industrial and developing countries. Pollutants such as metals and pesticides seep into the earth's soil and contaminate the food supply. Soil pollution causes major health risks to entire ecosystems. This type of pollution reduces the amount of land suitable for agricultural production and contributes to global food shortages. Dumping of industrial and domestic waste products produces much of the world's soil pollution, though natural disasters can also add to the problem. In wealthy countries such as the US, protection agencies monitor the food supply. The public is generally warned before major health outbreaks occur. Developing countries do not have this luxury. Farmers in poor nations grow food in contaminated soil both to earn a living and to avoid starvation.
As more people move to urban centres, premature deaths caused by pollution are expected to increase worldwide. Today, the developed nations who achieved their wealth at the expense of the environment will be held accountable for protecting the earth's resources for future generations.
READING COMPREHENSION QUIZ
1. According to the article, what causes 40% of the world's premature deaths?
2. What is the main reason people die of waterborne illnesses?
3. Which is the main cause of lung cancer in third world countries?
4. According to the article, where is cancer the leading cause of death?
5. Which is NOT mentioned as a source of soil pollution?
LISTENING TO A CONVERSATION
Now, let's talk about Pollution:
POLLUTION DISCUSSION
Topics for discussion and essay-writing
1. How is the quality of water in your hometown? Do you think water will become cleaner or more polluted in your area in the future? Provide reasons for your predictions.
2. Have you ever been to a city that had poor air quality? Describe your experience.
3. Do you think developing nations such as China should be more environmentally conscious? Is it their right to achieve wealth as other nations did in the past?
4. Do you think pollution will ever drive people back out into rural areas?
5. What role should wealthy nations such as the US have in caring for the environment in comparison to poor nations?
6. Natural disasters such as volcanoes, forest fires, and hurricanes send fossil fuels into the atmosphere and spread pollution. Why do you think nature acts this way?
FIGURES ON AIR POLLUTION
In the following link you can find an article about the problem of pollution in China.
Click here to see the article of The Washington Post
Now analyse the following figure with a partner and compare the differences between the countries in the forecast.
In the following link you can find an article about the problem of pollution in China.
Click here to see the article of The Washington Post
Click here to see the article of The Washington Post
Now analyse the following figure with a partner and compare the differences between the countries in the forecast.
| WRITING ABOUT POLLUTION |
POLLUTION CAUSE AND EFFECT TABLE
| Type of Pollution | CAUSES | EFFECTS | |
| Air | Factories and cars let out fumes and chemicals in smoke polluting the air. | Pollutants in the air make it hard for people to breathe causing lung disease. When it rains the chemicals in the air cause acid rain hurting the animals and plants. | |
| Land | People throw litter on the ground. Many people don't recycle and throw away so much garbage that we have landfills growing in our cities. | Many animals eat the litter and become sick and can die. Litter laying around covers the land from the sun and the grass and plants can die. | |
Water
| Many companies dump their toxic waste in many rivers and lakes. Ships spill oil in oceans and rivers. People throw litter in water. | Toxic waste and oil spills cause many animals and plants to die. Litter also is eaten by animals or they get caught in the litter like six pack plastics causing the animals death. |
Now, look at the table above and write a report about your opinion about the different types of pollution, and their causes and effects. Remember using connectors when writing.
A QUESTION OF GRAMMAR
Here you have some sentences from the text above. Change the following sentences from the passive to the active voice. Before you complete this exercise, review the grammar notes for the active and passive voices.
Hint: Locate the sentence in the passage. You may need to read the sentence in context to rewrite it in the active voice.
- Water in many third world countries is contaminated by toxic chemicals, also known as toxins.
- Approximately 80% of infectious diseases in the world are caused by contaminated water.
- The public is generally warned before major health outbreaks occur.
WORKING WITH A SONG
MERCY MERCY ME (MARVIN GAYE)
- Now, look for sentences in the song that can be changed into passive.
- Complete the following chart with verbs from the song:
BASE FORM
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PAST FORM
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PAST PARTICIPLE
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be
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go
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blow
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can
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stand
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FINAL TASK
This term we're going to do a final project about pollution and our responsability in the distruction of our Mother Earth.
1
After watching this video by Macaco's song Mother Earth, we're going to prepare a collaborative poster in which in groups of 4, you'll have to translate the lyrics of this song into English and illustrate it with different pictures in which you show how the Mother Earth is being handled roughly and damaged. You can take pictures of whatever you think is wrong about environment in your own village. Finally, you'll have to present your work to the rest of groups using vocabulary about pollution and environment you've learnt in this unit.
