VI. Role-play

Choose one of the following situations to act out.

1. Two scientists are arguing about our failure to adhere to basic eco­logical principles of sustainability.

1. A scientist is explaining to a group of the United States govern­ment representatives (which can be the whole class) the problems the one-way flow of phosphate lead. The representatives will then ask questions.

1. A scientist who cares about environmental protection is speaking to a group of local authority representatives about the Amazon con­tamination with mercury, a waste product of gold mining. The rep­resentatives will then ask questions.

1. A scientist who doesn't care about environmental protection is advising to a group of small business representatives (which can be

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Unit Six

Ecosystems: How They Work

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the whole class) to develop production of plastics. The representa­tives will then ask questions.

5. A scientist from the United States is talking with a scientist from Russia about using sunlight as the source of energy for ecosystems and industry.

5. A person from Great Britain is talking with a person from Russia about whose air pollution problems are more severe.

5. Two soil scientists are discussing farming practices that are leading to deterioration of soil and hence loss of productivity.

5. A teacher is explaining to a group of adult students (which can be the whole class) the third principle of ecosystem sustainability. He (or she) is giving a number of examples of overgrazing in figurative and literal sense. The students will then ask questions.

5. Two environmental scientists are discussing two problems the one­way flow of phosphate from mine to waterways lead.

10. You are speaking at a scientific conference about the ever-acceler­ating growth rate of the human population. The participants (which can be the whole class) will then ask questions.

10. A group of post-graduates (which can be the whole class) are dis­cussing our fantastic technological and material progress of the past 200 years, what they like and dislike about it.

VII. FOR DISCUSSION AND COMPOSITION

Choose one of the following to discuss or write about.

1. Discuss the environmental problems we face. What are they caused by?

1. Explain the First Principle of Sustainability. Do we adhere it?

1. Describe problems the one-way flow of phosphate from mine to waterways leads. What problem is known as eutrophication?

1. Explain the Second Principle of Sustainability. What have we de­veloped in contrast to this principle?

1. Discuss severe crises we are facing because of depletion of present oil reserves.

1. Describe solar energy. Why is it dangerous to ignore the ecosystem principle regarding solar energy?

1. Explain the Third Principle of Sustainability. Are signs of overgraz­ing becoming more evident?

8. Discuss literal overgrazing and overgrazing in figurative sense. What is the most serious form of figurative overgrazing?

8. What compounds the problem of finding dump sites? Describe in what way many synthetic products cause pollution.