Unit 6. Ecological problems

Pre-reading task

1. Give your own environmental definitions to the following terms:

“green” and “brown”.

2. Read the correct ones and check if you are right.

Green – someone ecologically intelligent.

Brown – someone not environmentally aware, the opposite of being green.

3. Read the following questionnaire and try to answer the questions.

HOW GREEN ARE YOU?

There is more to being green than recycling your newspapers and using unleaded fuel. Here is a chance to test your ecological intelligence 1. Which uses the most energy? a a fridge b a cooker or stove c a washing machine 2. What is the best way to make cars ecologically safer? a buying a car with a catalytic converter b using unleaded petrol c buying a more fuel-efficient car 3. Which of the following does not damage human health? a aspirin b roast beef c excessive intake of vitamin C 4. Which uses the most water in the home? a the toilet b the bath c the washing machine d the dishwasher

5. Which of these statements about ‘ozone friendly’ aerosol cans is true? a they contain no ozone-damaging propellants b they are biodegradable c they are recyclable 6. Which is the best way of improving the quality of drinking water? a buying bottled water b collecting rainwater c lobbying for a dual water supply d boiling tap water 7.Which is the best way to dispose of waste? a burning it in incinerators that generate energy b recycling c composting 8 Which is the most environment-friendly form of energy? a nuclear power b coal c gas d oil

4. Explain the adjectives in italics from ex. 3 and put them in the two boxes below.

good	bad

Ecovocabulary

1. Match the words with their appropriate definition:

a) recycling 1. making dirty, impure or diseased

b) the ozone layer 2. become liquid as a result of being taken into a liquid

c) fertilizers 3. no longer in existence

d) flood 4. unwanted, unnecessary

e) waste 5. cause loss of value

f) extinct 6. the processing of used objects so that they can be

used again

g) to dissolve 7. chemicals which farmers use to stop diseases and

make plants grow quicker.

h) contamination 8. a thin layer of gas high above the surface of the earth

i) to damage 9. great quantity of water in a place that is usually dry

2. Divide the words given in the box between the following entries:

air pollution global warming deforestation

congestion contamination water pollution

damage to the wildlife; depletion of the ozone layer; oil spills; exhaust fumes; temperature rise; traffic jams; pesticides; lack of oxygen; dumping, smoke from factories; cutting down rainforests; aerosol cans; the greenhouse effect; rubbish dumps; sewage; chemical fertilizers; power stations; smog; acid rains

Reading