Unit 4: Global Issues

Activity 1.

Listen to people discussing different issues. Check (√) the topic they are discussing.

word study:

- toxin (n): poisonous substance
- chemical (n): a substance obtained by or used in a chemical process
- subway (n): an underground system in a city

1.	a. transportation b. housing	4.	a. overpopulation b. pollution
2.	a. traffic safety b. crime	5.	a. employment b. education
3.	a. employment b. education	6.	a. climate b. pollution

Answer Key:

Listen again.

Listen again. Does each person think the problem is getting better or getting worse? Check (√) the answer.

	Better	Worse
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Answer Key:

Write down the reason the issue is getting better/worse.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Answer Key:

Activity 2.

Are the people describing something that has or hasn’t been done? Listen and check (√) done or not done.

word study:
- tax (n): money that you have to pay to the government so that it can pay for public services
- to pass (new laws): to approve
- handgun (n): a small gun

	Done	Not done		Done	Not done
1.			5.
2.			6.
3.			7.
4.			8.

Answer Key:

Listen for the topics.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Answer Key:

Activity 3.

Read the following sentences and try to guess the meaning of the words in italics.

1. Wind and rain badly eroded the beach. There was hardly any beach left.
2. The land was fertile; the farmers could grow food easily.
3. The soil was good for growing melons. It was dry and sandy.
4. Topsoil is the good, fertile soil at the top of the ground.
5. The sun evaporated all of the water in the bucket. There was none left.
6. The ground needed more moisture. It was too dry.
7. The farm was productive. Many kinds of fruits and vegetables grew there.
8. The cows grazed all day outside in the fields, then ate more in the barn at night.
9. The farmer used too much fertilizer. He wanted big plants, but he hurt the soil.
10. The desert has spread; it’s larger this year than last year.
Now match each word with its correct definition.

1.   eroded	a. get bigger and wider
2.   fertile	b. land; ground
3.   soil	c. walked around and ate
4.   topsoil	d. rich; able to grow a lot of plants
5.   evaporated	e. washed away
6.   moisture	f. went into the air as vapor
7.   productive	g. chemicals used to help plants grow
8.   grazed	h. good, rich soil
9.   fertilizer	i. water or liquid in something
10. spread	j. producing well

Answer Key:

BEFORE YOU LISTEN

    You are going to hear a lecture about why productive land is disappearing. What do you think the main cause is?
   
FIRST LISTENING: MAIN IDEAS
Listen to each part of the lecture to find out the main ideas. Decide which of the choices A, B or C is the correct answer.
PART 1

1. Large areas of the world now have
A. more rain and fewer plants.
B. more moisture.
C. less rain and fewer plants.

2. According to scientists, the main reason deserts are spreading is
A. nature.
B. people.
C. plants and animals.

PART 2

1. Thirty-five percent of topsoil erosion is caused by
overcutting of trees.
overgrazing.
poor farming methods.

2. Losing topsoil is a problem
only in Africa and Asia.
only in the United States.
all over the world.

Answer Key:

SECOND LISTENING: FACTS AND DETAILS

Listen to each part of the lecture again. This time listen to learn more facts and details. Write T (True) or F (False) in front of each sentence.
PART 1
1. Dry, desertlike areas appearing in many parts of the world.
2. Deserts cannot hold moisture well.
3. Less rain causes more plants to grow.
4. Topsoil erosion makes land less productive.
PART 2
1. Overgrazing means animals don’t eat enough plants.
2. If animals pack down the soil, less moisture evaporates.
3. If trees aren’t replanted, erosion increases.
4. Poor irrigation can cause too much salt in the soil.

Answer Key: