2d: Keep it green!

Warm-up

Discuss.

What kind of environmental problems exist in the area where you live?

There is a lot of pollution because of heavy traffic and there is also a lack of recycling bins.

What do you do to protect the environment?

I try to use environmentally-friendly devices, I recycle, I try to save water and energy as much as I can and I walk instead of using other means of transport.

2 Read

Comprehension questions:

1. How fast can electric cars go?

They can go 60Km/h.

2. Are they completely 'green'?

No, they aren't.

3. What do hybrid cars use?

Normal fuel or electricity.

4. How is carbon dioxide produced?

By burning oil, gas or coal.

5. How can people reduce their carbon footprint?

By turning off lights, driving less, recycling, etc.

6. Where can you calculate your carbon footprint?

On different websites.

7. How has the temperature in Alaska and Canada changed?

It's 5-10C warmer than average for this time of year.

Post-reading

1. What can people do instead of using their cars all the time?

They can walk, ride a bike or use public transport.

2. Do you know anything about global warming?

Yes, it's also called the greenhouse effect and it's about the planet becoming warmer and warmer as years go by. This gets worse with carbon dioxide, which humans release into the atmosphere by burning fuel.

3. Do you know of any organisations that help protect the environment?

Yes, I do. Some of them are the Saudi Environmental Society, the United Nations Environment Programme, Greenpeace, etc.

4. What do you know about ecotourism/recycling/ endangered species?

Ecotourism is a kind of tourism that doesn't harm the environment. It's becoming more popular in recent times.

Recycling is a useful practice that relates to reusing plastic, metal, paper, glass and other materials after a special process instead of making new ones.

Endangered species are animals who are running the risk of extinction because humans hunt them or because their natural habitat is destroyed.

5. Have you ever watched any documentaries about environmental problems?

Yes, I have; they always teach me interesting facts about the planet.

6. Do you think there's hope to save our planet?

Yes, there is. If we all work together, we can make a difference.

B. Look at the highlighted words in the text and try to guess what they mean. Then match them with the
meanings 1-6 below.

1. make smaller or less: reduce

2. any material that produces heat or power when burnt: fuel

3. actions done for a particular purpose e.g. a law: measures

4. fill with electricity: charge

5. a period of ten years: decade

6. happening in or affecting the whole world: global

C. Read again and write T for True or F for False.

1. Electric cars are perfect for long journeys. F

2. Driving an electric car doesn’t harm the environment at all. F

3. If you have a large carbon footprint, you’re harming the environment. T

4. Creating more carbon dioxide helps the environment. F

5. The temperature in Alaska has been 5-10oC this year. F

6. Australia has been having very hot summers. T

3 Grammar

Complete the sentences using should/shouldn’t and the verbs in brackets.

1. Schools should organise (organise) tree planting days.

2. Teachers should try (try) to teach students to respect the environment.

3. They shouldn't use (use) their cars so much. They should ride (ride) their bicycles or walk instead.

4. Ahmed and Ibrahim should recycle (recycle) paper instead of throwing it away.

5. Mary thinks that the factory should start (start) using recyclable materials.

6. You should charge (charge) your mobile phone’s battery for eight hours before using it for the first time.

4 Pronunciation

A. Listen and repeat. What’s the difference between a and b?
a. website b. destroy

B. Listen and tick (3) the sound you hear.

5 Speak

Talk in pairs. Discuss the problems below and say what people should/shouldn’t do. Use the
ideas in the box.

A: There's too much air pollution in cities. What do you think we should do about it?

B: I think we should use cars less or buy electric cars. We should generally try to reduce our carbon footprint.

A: And the traffic police shouldn't allow driving in city centres.

B: I agree. Now, another issue: people produce too much rubbish. What should we do about it?

A: We should recycle glass, paper and metal.

B: OK, and what about factories and farms? They pollute rivers.

A: Well, I think governments should move factories away from the cities and take more measures.

B: That's true.

A: One last issue is that the planet's climate is changing. What should we do?

B: I believe that we should give money to environmental organisations and that the government should try to protect the environment in more ways.