Exercises
Explain the meanings and give examples of usage of the following words from the text above. Use the chart below.
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# |
Word |
Meaning(s) |
Example of usage other than in the text |
dubious repugnant culminate in, replenish, regenerate, dwindle, outstrip, omnivorous, pick upon, range against, (in)contestable, sustain
Match the words in the left and right columns to restore the collocations from the text. Give the context where they are used.
g. "packed to bursting". The fishing boat's holds were packed to bursting with the catch when the captain had moored the vessel at the landing dock.
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packed |
a species to extinction |
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stark |
sunlight |
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worthy |
of extinction |
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heart of |
parts |
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adorn |
for the devil |
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perpetual |
a natural wilderness |
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akin to |
to bursting |
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hovers |
reality of life |
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pursuing |
of civilisations |
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small-scale |
way |
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battle for |
case |
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in an unsustainable |
complex realities |
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win sympathy |
genocidal murderers |
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economic |
lobby |
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propaganda |
cultural and economic survival |
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liverish |
between -10C and freezing |
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incontestable |
consumer products |
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intrinsic |
fishery |
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to the point |
battle |
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environmental |
aftertaste |
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clash |
of protection |
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mask |
anachronism |
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Answer the questions on the text and beyond.
How would you describe the history of international whaling?
How would you describe a typical Norwegian whaling ship?
How would you describe the Sofie's crew?
How would you describe the average person's attitude to hunting whales?
How would you describe the average Lofotener's attitude to whaling?
How would you describe Lofoteners' attitudes to that part of people that protest against whaling in all forms?
How would you describe the Lofoten Islands?
How would you describe the image that Lofoten fishermen have earned themselves?
How would you describe the findings of the recent counting stock?
How would you describe the environmental lobby?
How would you characterise the relationship between the environmentalists and whalers?
Why does the author of the article finish the essay with a question?
Talking and Writing
Are you among the supporters of or the protesters against whaling? No big judgements can be made based on this only information. Hence, give the discussion the status of a pure language exercise. So, which circumstances will outweigh in making the decision? Share your opinions as a class.
AGAINST WHALING
FOR WHALING
Once we have committed ourselves to rescue the whale, we have to be consistent and see this cause through to the end.
Humans cannot survive entirely outside their established food chains. Therefore, sustained whaling can be allowed. We eat meat and whale is the only variety up there.
Whale meat is not a necessity of life. People can well do without it.
Lofoteners have lived there for generations. This is a way of life and an entire culture. We can't rule over those people.
Most environmental disasters are explained by "stark economic necessity". There are solutions.
The Norwegian whaling fleet is too small to cause discernible damage to global whale populations.
Social and economic development does sometimes require entire regions and nations to reorientate their economies.
Whaling is a macho job for courageous people. They won't find themselves a matching substitute.
The international community, governments and environmental organisations can find funds for relocation of the islanders and their new job placement on the mainland.
The situation is less dramatic. Environmental organisations have purposefully created the boom to reap from it.
Whale hunting can be replaced by aqua farming. This won't affect the marine wildlife.
Whales are just another wildlife species of the many that are ably and controllably hunted around the world.
Again, whale-hunting can be replaced by whale watching for tourists and earn comparable income. It's more environment-friendly.
Banning whaling will create unemployment and broken destinies.
Whaling is an embarrassing circumstance for Norwegian diplomacy.
Islanders have no immunity for various diseases, which are endemic in the bacteria-ridden “south”.
Write a summary of the class discussion on the appropriateness of whaling nowadays.
