5. Learn the information in italics. It’ll enable you to speak freely on the following environmental issues:
- endangered species
- tropical rainforests
- drought and water conservation
- rubbish as a serious threat to animals
- Earth Day
- leaded petrol as a major source of urban air pollution
- bottle banks
- the ozone layer
6. Study the following:
A. My friends and I don’t really talk about the environment, as we are not directly faced with any of the problems.
to face sth BUT to be faced with sth
Exemplify the use of the given structures with sentences of your own.
B. There are many legitimate arguments against the building of an incinerator but the main worry is that these reasons won’t be taken into consideration.
the building of an incinerator OR _ building _ an incinerator
(the + verbal noun + of…) (gerund + noun)
Use the definite article and the preposition "of" where necessary:
1. __ watching __ documentaries is a fascinating pastime. 2. The ceremony of __ changing __ the guard at Buckingham Palace attracts a lot of tourists. 3. __ focusing __ a camera is now automatic. 4. ___ building up ____ your vocabulary is indispensable for mastering a foreign language. 5. A laser is a device for ___ making and concentrating ___ light waves into an intense beam.
C. The recycling plants are few and far between because not enough people will take the initiative to bundle up newspapers once a week or throw aluminum cans in a different trash can to be recycled.
to be few and far between = not happening very often or not existing in many places
Exemplify the use of the idiom with a sentence of your own.
7. Complete the sentences so that they make sense:
Carbon dioxide is … .
… may become extinct if … .
… thanks to the dramatic reduction of gases.
… , that’s why I think the government shows enough concern about the environment.
Soil erosion, mud slides and drought are … . They can be caused by … .
Environmentalists fear lest this rare plant should become … so the number of extinct species will increase.
Our recycling program includes … .
Some people in large cities have to wear masks to avoid … .
… , that’s why cars in the US have been running on unleaded petrol since the 1970s.
The …of the ozone layer is the world’s … .
The kind of detergent you use is not … - it’s unable to decay.
… may be a way out: it will burn harmful refuse. But what if it … and the air will get poisoned?
In Europe they don’t have problems with empty glass bottles: … .
The increase in the level of ultraviolet rays … .
8. Discussion
1. Answer the questions (the underlined questions require extended answers):
1. Where are CFCs to be found?
2. Why are CFCs much more dangerous to the ozone layer than excess carbon dioxide?
3. How does the mechanism of global warming or the greenhouse effect work?
4. What can global warming bring about?
5. What are the advantages of organic farming?
6. What steps to save the environment are suggested by Janelle Evans? Which of them seem(s) feasible to you? Give your reasons.
7. What manifestation of environmental behaviour does Marni criticise? Do you agree with her?
8. What’s the biggest environmental problem in Dan Kernan’s area?
9. Does Dan feel optimistic about the prospects of saving the environment?
10. What’s the major environmental difficulty in Joanne Greensted’s area? What solution to the problem does she suggest?
11. What does Rob Antrobus consider to be the world’s greatest concern? Why is this environmental issue important, in his opinion?
12. What solution to the problem of the ozone layer is put forward by Rob?
13. Why is Christy Wilson concerned about building the incinerator?
14. What other environmental difficulties does Christy mention?
15. Do environmental problems worry you?
2. Go over the list of terms denoting different kinds of environmental pollution. Get ready
1) to explain what each term means
2) to say which kind of pollution seems the most dangerous to you and why
3) to explain how they are interrelated
4) to point out which kinds of environmental pollution were mentioned in the text E.g.: When Janelle Evans mentions the problem of … he/she speaks about …. pollution. || The issue of … mentioned by Dan Kernan is related to the problem of … pollution… etc.
air/land/waste/marine/water/noise/car pollution
