Our green blog!

Queridos "Green Friends"

Como veis hemos creado un GREEN BLOG, esperamos que hayáis aprendido muchísimo inglés y que seáis conscientes de que tenemos que cuidar cada vez más el medio ambiente.

We hope you enjoyed it! and BE GREEN, MY FRIEND!

Gabriela and Lorena

NB: Most of the text, audio and video material are from Environment-agency web page. However, we have modified the texts and we have created the exercises.

Extra activities

1. Complete each word with either in- or un-.

a) Why are you so ...... .in .sensitive to other people's problems?

b) The garden is divided into two ........... equal parts.

c) I think you were ........... justified in punishing both boys.

d) I am afraid that the world is full of ........... justice.

e) This ticket is ........... valid. You haven't stamped it in the machine.

f) Thank you for your help. It was ........... valuable.

g) Quite honestly I find that argument ........... tenable.

h) The government's ........... action can only be explained as sheer neglect.

i) The amount of food aid the country has received is quite ........... sufficient.

j) Her remarks were so rude they were frankly ........... printable.

2. Complete each sentence with a word formed from the word in capitals.

a) The country's energy ...consumption-.... is some 30% higher than a decade ago. At the same time we have seen an increase in the use of  ………………….energy sources such as wind power and solar power. 

CONSUME -  RENEW

b) An entire month's average hit………………….. Bilbao yesterday, while across the border in France, it's the opposite problem. The recent lack of rain is likely to lead to water…………………. in some areas. 

RAIN - SHORT

c) The oil spill was described as 'an ………………. disaster'. It is thought likely to affect …………. within a about 20-mile radius.                                                                                                                

ECOLOGY - WILD

d) Numerous species face………………. if nothing is done the problem .…………of.

EXTINCT -FOREST

e) Many……………… products, such as cleaning liquids and bleach, contain………………..chemicals.

HOUSE - HARM

3. Use the word in capitals adding the correct prefix to fill each blank space.

a) Browning had another violet ……………….. with the boss.                                                     

AGREEMENT

b) It´s very hot. Why don´t you ……………… your collar.                                                                     

BUTTON

c) Wear casual clothes. It´s a(n) ……………….. occasion.                                                                     

FORMAL

d) In some places the weather changes so quickly that it´s very……………………                   

PREDICTABLE

e) You do have some good ideas but your work is very ……………………….                                

ORGANISED

f) “This is not a good essay” said the lecturer. “I find your arguments………..”                     

CONVINCING

4. Watch this short video and read the transcript to understand it better:

 VIDEO: Waste crime: tyres
Sarah Chare, Head of Operations, talks about the importance of treating waste tyres within the law.

“Waste tyres can be used in a number of ways. Obviously they can be retreads and made into tyres again, but they can also be used for energy and cement kilns, baled tyres can be used in the construction industry, they can be used in children's playgrounds for matting and making running tracks and there's a lot of creation out there as well, in fact, you can also buy funky shoes made from waste tyres. HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO THIS... WASTE CRIME IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 55 MILLION WASTE TYRES PRODUCED IN UK EACH YEAR

The worst impact for illegal tyre sites is when they catch fire, clearly noxious smoke and pollution to water courses and the impact to the communities around those sites. The Environment Agency work with police, work with customs, work with the border agency. We also work in partnership with the shipping sector as well, where we were able to prevent a lot of waste tyres going to developing countries. We work with the trade associations, particularly the Tyre Recovery Association on their campaigns and their work. It is very important for businesses to understand their responsibilities to protect themselves and it's very important that landowners understand their responsibilities and don't end up being duped by people who will ultimately leave them with large clear up costs of tyres left on their land. What the Environment Agency would like is people to ask, to double check and to report. So ask the question, where are the tyres going to? Are they part of the legitimate market? Check. Are these people who they say they are? Do they have the correct permits in place? Are their companies viable? And finally, if they've got any suspicions that these people are involved in illegitimate acts ring Crime Stoppers and report it. The more information that the Environment Agency has, the more we can do to prevent tyres going into the illegitimate market”.

Progress Test - Part 2

PROGRESS TEST (PART 2)

 

 

 

1.       Listen to this audio.

Video: Securing a green legacy for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A lot of people have been working with partners to make significant environmental improvements in and around the Olympic Park in East London. Watch the video to find out more about the benefits of their work and the Games’ green legacy.

Listening Audio

 

 

 

Now, listen again and fill in the gaps. To help you, you have the missing words underneath the text.

"There has been a host of ways in which the _______ has been really centre stage in the putting together of the ________ here. The River Lee of course, flows right through the middle of the park. Twenty years ago it was one of the most ______ rivers in the country. It's now much _______and a lot of that clean up is a result of the work that's been happening here. We've also been able, by doing that work, to reduce _________ for something like 4,000 properties down in Canning and West Ham and that has been one of the major benefits of work done on the Olympic Park.

It's the Olympics, it is iconic, it is going to be something that people around the world are going to be looking at and thinking about. And the fact that the environment and _________ have been part of the creation of the Olympics from the outset I think is rather important. We can, and should, be doing this on other major projects for the future. One of the really good things about this whole project is that the __________ worked with the Olympic Delivery Authority from the word go and we worked out how it could be best be done so that their needs could be met and our duties to _______ the environment could be satisfied as well. And actually, I think it's worked brilliantly. "

 

PROTECT – OLYMPIC PARK – POLLUTED – CLEANER – ENVIRONMENT

SUSTAINABILITY – FLOOD RISK – ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

 

 

2. Write a 100 words composition comparing the two pictures below.  Isn't it sad?

 



 

 

And that's it! We hope this unit was helpful for you!

Any doubts, comments or suggestions are welcome!

 

And remember...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Progress Test - Part 1

To finish with your tasks on this topic, you will have to pass this test. Don't worry, it's just to check that you have acquired the knowledge you were expected to.

If you need extra help, click on this link and you will find a Glossary with all the words we have learnt on this unit:

A Glossary of Environment

 

 

PROGRESS TEST (1)

 

1.       Underline the most appropriate word to complete each sentence.

 

a) Last year this tree was struck by lightning/thunder/a storm.

b) I like spring best, when the apple trees are in blooming/blossom/flowers.

c) Something must be done to protect wild/wilderness/wildlife.

d) When I want to relax, I go for a walk in the countryside/the nature/the outside.

e) In this part of the country, the earth/the land/the soil is quite expensive.

f) Suddenly we saw a ship appear on the atmosphere/horizon/sky. We were saved!

g) Most animals will attack you to protect their babies/litters/young.

h) Julia recently discovered a new category/make/species of fruit-fly.

i) We got soaked to the skin in the torrential drizzle/downpour/snow.

j) While I was eating cherries I accidentally swallowed a nut/pip/stone.

 

 

 

 

2.       Complete the word in each sentence by adding an appropriate prefix.

 

a) I didn't pay the bill and now the electricity has been ....connected.

b) There is a law against dropping litter, but it is ………believable people don´t care about it.

c) it should be ……legal to sell guns in the USA.

d) the behaviour of some people towards animals is ….tolerable.

e) The rumours about the minister's death were completely ........... founded.

f) Anyone with a ........... ability may qualify for a special pension.

g) Bull fighting is becoming ……..popular in Spain.

 

3.       Put the verbs into the correct tense (past simple or present perfect simple).

1. A: (you / play / already) the new computer game?
2. B: No, not yet. I only (buy) it yesterday and I (have / not) the time yet.
3. A: (you / go) to the cinema last night?
4. B: Yes. I (be) there with Sue and Louis. (you / be) to the cinema recently?
5. A: I last (go) to the cinema two weeks ago.
6. B: So you (see / not) the new action film yet.
7. A: No, unfortunately not. (you / enjoy) it?
8. B: Oh, I really (love) it. But Sue (like / not) it - too much action!
9. A: But why (you / take) her with you? She (tell) me last week that she (hate) action films.

It's not the end...there's a second part! 

Grammar Reference - Present Perfect

Use of Present Perfect

 

1. Emphasizes on the result. I.e. She has written five letters.

2. Action that is still going on. I.e. School has not started yet.

3. Action that stopped recently. I.e. She has cooked dinner.

4. Finished action that has an influence on the present. I.e. I have lost my key.

5. Action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking. I.e. I have never been to Australia.

 

 

I/you/we/they -  Affirmative: I have spoken

                          Negative: I have not spoken

                          Question: Have I spoken?

 

He/she/it - Affirmative: He has spoken

                  Negative: He has not spoken

                  Question: Has he spoken?

 



Signal words of Present Perfect

Already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now...

 

For irregular verbs use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

 

 

Form of Present perfect

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It emphasizes on the result.

 

 

 

Grammar Reference - Past simple

Here you have some grammar tips that will help you to improve your English. Remember they can be very useful for your future (especially, for the test we will make later on)

PAST SIMPLE

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never or several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

No differences

Affirmative: I spoke
Negative: I did not speak.
Question: Did I speak?


For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed. 

Exceptions in spelling when adding -ed:

• After a final e only add d. I.e: Love - loved.
• Final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled: I.e: Admit - admitted, travel - travelled.
• Final y after a consonant becomes i. I.e.: Hurry - hurried

Use of simple past

 

  1. Action in the past taking place once, never or several times. Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
 
 2. Actions in the past taking place one after the other. Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.

3. Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action. Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.

4. If sentences type II (If I talked, …).Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

Signal words of past simple

Yesterday, two minutes ago, last friday, in 1990, the other day...

 

 

Writing Activity - Climate Change (Part 2)

WRITING

ACTIVITIES

 

 

1.       Complete the last part of the main text with the words below.

ü  Why is tackling climate change so important? 

Climate change will lead to major adverse impacts on people and wildlife, so we need to minimise the _______.

In the UK, there are currently 490,000 properties at significant risk of _______. If we don’t increase action to reduce _______, an additional 350,000 more properties (making a total of 830,000) will be at significant risk of flooding by 2035 due to ______.

The total annual river ____ in England and Wales could drop by 10 to 15 per cent by 2050, with 80 per cent less______ in some rivers during the summer months.

The overall costs and risks of climate change will be equivalent to losing at least five per cent of global GDP each year. In contrast, the cost of action - reducing __________ emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change - can be limited to around two per cent of global GDP each year.

Water - damage – flow - flooding –  flood risk – greenhouse gas - climate change -   2.       Answer the following questions: a.    Is there a difference between climate and weather? If yes, explain the difference. b.    What is known for natural variability? c.     Do you think we could live in the Earth without greenhouse gases? d.    Why are ice sheets and glaciers melting? e.    How many tonnes of ice a year is Antarctica now losing? f.     Which extreme events can happen in our planet?   3.       Write a 100 words composition about what can you do to prevent climate change.  (Tip: watch the video to get some ideas). 4.       Check what you wrote. Here you have some steps you can take to reduce your 'carbon footprint', and prepare for the impacts of climate change.   Every single one of us can help to attack climate change and prepare for the impacts. We all have an impact on the environment through our use of resources and burning fossil fuels for everyday activities such as driving cars and heating our homes. If we all try to make the most environmentally sustainable choices in our lives then we can make a real difference.     -          Did you write about the use of our resources? Everyday activities such as driving cars and heating our homes? o   Yes, well done!!!  o   If not, don´t worry, you´ll do it next time!

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