English Learning

English Learning English Learning • The Lecturer: • Shen Kailai • In Qingyuan • Dec. 18, 2004

UNIT 9 Saving the earth

TASK 1Warming up What is the biggest problemfacing the earth

Discussion: • What is the biggest problem facing the earth? Why do you think so? • What causes the problem? • What can we do to solve the problem? • 4. What do you expect to learn in this unit?

Water pollution Water pollution

Trash/garbage Rubbish mountain We can easily find such scenes everywhere in big cities. People are trying to deal with rubbish now.

Better our city Air pollution

Destroy forests Deforestation

Desertification How a green world becomes a desert? We must do some- thing to stop it!

Starvation Refugees in Libya help themselves to food. Refugees in India after a big flood. A concert is being held for African refugees! Famine victims Refugees in Afghan

TASK 2Group work Discuss the questions in groups of four

**What is the biggest problem facing the world? A: I think that water pollution is the most serious problem facing the earth because we all need clean water to survive and animals and plants need clean water, too. B: In my opinion, the biggest problems facing the earth are starvation and desertification. If our land turns into desert, we won’t be able to grow enough food. That may cause starvation. Picture 1: Waste water from factories and cities should be stopped from going out into the rivers and lakes and oceans. We can use new technologies to clean the waste water. We should also be more careful with our limited fresh clean water, try to use less and recycle as much water as possible.

Picture 2: Garbage is also a very serious problem. We can see rubbish almost everywhere. We must try to reduce the amount of garbage/rubbish. We can do it by producing and buying products that use less packaging or wrapping. We should never throw garbage/rubbish in the streets or in nature. We should also try to recycle as much as possible. Picture 3: Air pollution is very serious in some big cities, which does great harm to people’s health. Waste gases from factories and cars should be stopped. We can reduce air pollution by using new technologies and using less energy. The harmful smoke should be made clean before it goes into the air. Planting more trees is also a very good way to clean the air.

Picture 4: Our need for wood and fuel cause deforestation, which in turn leads to desertification. We should make strict laws to protect the forests. We can reduce the effects of deforestation by planting new trees and we can also try to use less wood. Picture 5: If our land turns into desert, we won’t be able to grow enough food. That may cause starvation. Desertification is mainly caused by deforestation and changes in climate, which can be reduced if we try to “repair” desert and protect areas that are in danger of becoming desert.

Picture 6: Starvation is mainly caused by the uneven distribution of wealth and sometimes by war or natural disasters. People who get hungry must get help. There are many rich countries and they should help people who can’t get enough food. We can reduce starvation by redistributing the wealth of rich countries, by providing education and technology to developing countries, and by giving monetary aid to disaster-stricken areas. ** What do you expect to learn in this unit? I expect to learn more about the problems facing the earth and what we can do to solve the problems. I also expect to learn words that I can use to talk about nature and environment. I am going to learn them by reading and listening and by talking to my classmates.

TASK 3Speaking Should we use the coal or should we not?

We must make sure that…. / It’s clear that…. / I believe that we must…. / I’m all for…. / If nothing is done…, then…. Useful I can’t imagine that…. / Sure/Certainly/ Absolutely. / It would be better if we…. / Is there a better way to…? Expressions

TASK 4Group work Let’s have a discussion!

A sample dialogue: C = Citizen S = Scientist L = Leader E= Environmentalist B=Businessman L: Good morning. I would like to thank all of you for being here today. We’re going to discuss a very im- portant issue. As you know, there is a lot of coal in our area. Coal is a valuable resource which can be used to produce energy, but it can also cause very serious pollution. Today we need to discuss the problem and decide what to do with it.

B: I think that we should burn the coal because our area needs to be developed. We must make sure that our citizens have jobs and our children can get good education. It’s clear that we need energy and money to make our life better. The coal is the only chance. We must use it. E: Excuse me, but I’m afraid I can’t agree with you. I think there are other ways to develop our area. If we use the coal, we will pollute the air and water. We may be able to make money, but the damage we cause can’t be repaired. We mustn’t forget that we are responsible for the future. It’s not right to to develop economy at the cost of the environment.

S: It’s clear that burning coal can do harm to the en- vironment, but there are ways to reduce the danger. We will be able to develop new cleaner ways to use the coal. Then we can develop our area without pollution. Of course, we need more money to do the re- search work. C: But where will the money come from? We must use the coal so that we can develop our area as soon as possible because we don’t have much time to wait. If nothing is done, our area will become poorer and poorer. I agree we must do what we can to protect the environment, but we must also make sure that we can develop the economy of our area.

Homework 1.Preview “Reading” and try tounderstand it. • Language study— word study—p.69

Thank you. The End

English Learning