Virtually impossible to dispose of safely. If these ____(10)____ are buried in

underground storage sites, there is the danger that they may ___(11)_____ into

lakes and rivers, with serious long-term effects on living organisms.

Emissions from industrial plants, such as sulphur, can also enter the atmosphere,

where they can cause damage to the ____(12)______ around the planet. They

may also fall back to earth as ____(13)____ and destroy plants and trees. All

these are examples of types of _____(14)_____ that could be prevented.

Now read the continuation of the text. Fill in the gaps with words

from the box below.

• deforestation • ecosystems • extinction • genetic engineering

• wetlands • wildlife • living organisms • endangered species

• dying out • strains

We drain ____(15)_____ near rivers and coastal areas to create land for

building. Through ___(16)______, the large-scale cutting down of trees, the

____(17)_____ that allow species to survive are changed and the amount of land

available for____(18)_____decreases. Some species are so reduced in number

that they are in danger of ____(19)____. At this stage they are known as an

____(20)____ and are only one step away from total ___(21)______. We are

now beginning to manipulate nature in new ways, without thought for the

possible consequences. Using the latest technology, we can now create

_____(22)____ of plants which are resistant to diseases and which can survive

extremes of temperature or salinity (salt content). The danger of this process of

_____(23)____ is that producing new plants or other _____(24)_____

like bacteria may bring disaster as well as apparent advantages, as experience

has already shown. So, with the new millennium, we need a new beginning, a

61

fresh start. We need to reverse the major threats to our environment. Above all,

we need to understand that we cannot go on consuming and polluting with no

thought for tomorrow.

Identify key environmental problems being described in the text.

II. Choose an environmental problem that you think is particularly

relevant to your country (town). Answer the following questions

using the expressions below to help you.

i. What are the specific effects of the problem on your country? Give

examples.

ii. What is being done to improve matters? Is it enough, or should more

be done? What?

iii. What is likely to happen if nothing is done?

A major/An urgent environmental concern/ issue/problem is ...

One of the main/major causes of ... is ...

One/Another (very worrying) effect of ... is ...

Various solutions have been tried out, such as ….

What really/urgently needs to be done is ...

III. Look at the notes below and then discuss what the problems are and

how they can be solved.

Problems: oil slicks, noise, smog, Solutions: coastguard surveillance,

congestion, gas emissions, acid radar system, filters, fines, laws on

rain, careless disposal of waste, use of horns, catalytic converters,

unpleasant smells, unnecessary unleaded petrol, better public

packaging, dumping oil/ toxic transport, ban on careless disposal of

waste, etc. rubbish, biodegradable packaging,

improved waste disposal systems, etc.

IV. HOW I WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD...

The future generation has an unenviable task: tomorrow they must

tackle the environmental problems we are creating today. Read what young

people think about environmental problem, about the world around them.

Alex Lin Shoko Takahashi

11, USA 14, Japan

"It is very important "Everyone should do

to recycle e-waste - a bit - if everyone

much of our e-waste does small things it

is dumped in other can change a lot".

countries".

Aparna Bhasin JC Martel

62

17, India 17, Canada

"One of the global "My government

problems that really should invest money

worries me is in environmental

poverty". education".

Analiz Vergara Yvonne Maingey

16, Ecuador 17, Kenya

"We don't realise "People don't realise

that many problems that poverty and the

could have been environment are part

prevented if we took of the same thing".

care of the

environment".

Now it is your turn to say what worries you most in the modern

world, what environmental problem you consider important and deserving

urgent actions.

Answers to the crossword (page 46)

Across Down

1. Durable 2. Bulk

7. Reuse 3. Environment

8. Compost 4. Trash

10. Donate 5. Earth

11. Batteries 6. Recycle

9. Reduce