Unit 1 ‘The Environment’
THINKING ABOUT THE TOPIC
1. Complete the questionnaire below about your everyday activities. Analyze your answers and decide if you can call yourself a friend of planet Earth.
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Are you a friend of planet Earth? |
Yes |
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No |
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1. Do you turn off lights, TV and computer when they are not needed, for example when you leave a room? |
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2. Do you avoid wasting water (for example, never leave dripping taps, use a glass of water when brushing your teeth, avoid using washing machines and dishwashers too much)? |
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3. Do you sort your waste for it to be recycled later? |
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4. Do you take your own plastic bag when you go shopping? |
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5. Do
you pay attention whether the product you are going to buy is
labeled “ozone friendly” -
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6. Do you try to buy products without excessive packaging? |
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7. Do you buy household cleaning products that do not have strong chemicals? |
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8. Do you mend things when they go wrong instead of throwing them out and buying new ones? |
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9. Do you always put your trash in the trash can? |
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10. Do you use public transport regularly? |
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11. Do you prefer walking or riding a bike to going by car to any places nearby? |
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12. Have you ever planted a tree? |
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“recyclable” or “made from recycled materials” -
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2. Share your analysis with the class to find out who is the most planet-friendly student in your group. Explain your choice.
Reading The Environment
PRE-READING TASK
Mark the statements below as true or false:
People damage the environment because they are not fully aware of the consequences of their actions. __________
Natural resources must be in public but not in private possession to avoid damage to the environment. _____________
There is little disagreement that the warnings of scientists about future dangers are groundless. ___________
New sources of energy and new materials may lead to pollution rather than solve the problem. ____________
Industry is the most considerable source of air pollution. _______________
Environmental organizations have powerful impact on governments and their decisions. ___________
Discuss your answers and your reasons with your partner.
READING
Skim the text “The Environment” to find out whether the author shares your ideas about the statements in Pre-reading task 1.
http://images.paraorkut.com/img/wallpapers/1024x768/r/rocky_reef-1470.jpg http://greenword.ru/images/trash.jpg