UNIT 2: THE WORLD WE LIVE IN |
Talk about these questions
1. Which of these facts worries you the most?
2. In what other ways is life on earth being threatened?
2. In what other ways is life on earth being threatened?
Give each item in the quiz a number from 1 to 5
1 = always 2 = often 3 =sometimes 4 = hardly ever 5 = never
1 = always 2 = often 3 =sometimes 4 = hardly ever 5 = never
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| Do you…? 1. avoid throwing things away if they can be reused, repaired, or recycled 2. use recycled paper 3. recycle paper, glass, and cans 4. avoid products from nonrenewable sources 5. avoid buying over packed products 6. use public transportation when traveling long distances 7. avoid using the air-conditioning in the summer 8. use low- energy light bulbs 9. turn off the lights when you leave a room 10. avoid using more water than you need |
1. Add up the number from the quiz and calculate your score.
2. Which item from the quiz do you think is the most important thing to do? The least important?
3. What other “green” things do you do?
4. Is recycling popular in your country? Is it required?
2. Which item from the quiz do you think is the most important thing to do? The least important?
3. What other “green” things do you do?
4. Is recycling popular in your country? Is it required?
Score interpretation
| Score | |
| 10-20 | You’re so green, it’s unbelievable! Are there even more things you do to protect the environment? |
| 21-30 | You’re very environmentally aware. You care about and respect the world around you. |
| 31-40 | You do some things to protect the environment, but there is always room for improvement. |
| 41-50 | You’re not green at all. Be aware of the things you can do & try. Everything you do will help. |
How concerned are you about each of the following problems?
| Problems | I worry about it a lot. | I sometimes worry about it. | I don’t worry about it at all. |
| drug trafficking | |||
| Famine | |||
| global warming | |||
| government corruption | |||
| the homeless | |||
| incurable diseases | |||
| Inflation | |||
| political unrest | |||
| Poverty | |||
| Unemployment |
What will happen if the problem isn’t solved? Make suggestions about how to solve some specific problems facing people in your community.
What can be done ...? 1. to clean up the beaches 2. to reduce the number of drunk-driving accidents 3. to control the cutting down of forests 4. to reduce unemployment 5. ……………………….. | Useful expressions One thing to do about it is ... Another way to help is ... The best thing to do is ... Why don’t we ...? |
The people of Kiribati are afraid that one day in the not-too-distant future, their country will disappear from the face of the earth _ literally. Several times this year, the Pacific island nation has been flooded by a sudden high tide. These tides, which swept across the island and destroyed houses, came when there was neither wind nor rain. "This never happened before,” say the older citizens of Kiribati.
What is causing these mysterious high tides? The answer may well be global warming. When fuels like oil and coal are being burned, pollutants are released; these pollutants trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Warmer temperatures cause water to expand and also create more water by melting glaciers and polar ice caps.
If the trend continues, scientists say, many countries will suffer. Bangladesh, for example, might lose one-fifth of its land. The coral island nations of the Pacific, like Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, however, would face an even worse fate_ they would be swallowed by the sea. The loss of these coral islands would be everyone’s loss. Coral formations are home to more species than any other place on earth.
The people of these nations feel frustrated. The sea, on which their economies have always been based, is suddenly threatening their existence. They don’t have the money for expensive technological solutions like seawalls. And they have no control over the pollutants, which are being released mainly by activities in large industrialized countries. All they can do is to hope that industrialized countries will take steps to reduce pollution.
What is causing these mysterious high tides? The answer may well be global warming. When fuels like oil and coal are being burned, pollutants are released; these pollutants trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Warmer temperatures cause water to expand and also create more water by melting glaciers and polar ice caps.
If the trend continues, scientists say, many countries will suffer. Bangladesh, for example, might lose one-fifth of its land. The coral island nations of the Pacific, like Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, however, would face an even worse fate_ they would be swallowed by the sea. The loss of these coral islands would be everyone’s loss. Coral formations are home to more species than any other place on earth.
The people of these nations feel frustrated. The sea, on which their economies have always been based, is suddenly threatening their existence. They don’t have the money for expensive technological solutions like seawalls. And they have no control over the pollutants, which are being released mainly by activities in large industrialized countries. All they can do is to hope that industrialized countries will take steps to reduce pollution.
Read the article. Talk about these questions:
1. How is the action of industrialized countries making islands like Kiribati disappear from the face of the earth?
2. Scientists are still not sure how serious the effects of global warming will be. Some industries don’t want to make changes until there is definite evidence that the effects are serious. What is your opinion?
3. If you live on an island like Kiribati, what would you like to see done?
1. Look at the advertisement. Follow the four-step guidelines
2. Present your plan to the forum. Whose plan do you think will have the best result? Which one is the most practical?
1. Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the world?
2. Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting the environment? Think of a situation in your area involving this issue. Which side would you choose?
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