READING
A. Discuss.
• What do you do to protect the environment?
• What more could you do?
To protect the environment, I always sort household waste into separate recycling bins, turn off the tap while brushing my teeth, and switch off electronic appliances when they are not in use. I also use a reusable cloth shopping bag instead of taking single-use plastic bags at the supermarket.
To do more, I could start cycling or walking to school instead of taking the bus, reduce the amount of packaged food I buy, and participate in local tree-planting and park clean-up events.
B. Read the text quickly and decide which of the two headings, a or b, is more suitable for each of the paragraphs 1-3.
- b (Kill Two Birds with One Stone)
- b (From Phone to Flower)
- a (Trendy Junk)
C. Read the text again and answer the questions.
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Where does the eco-friendly showerhead get its power from?
It gets its power from the water used while taking a shower. -
How can you tell if the water is too hot with the eco-friendly showerhead?
An indicator on the showerhead glows red when the water is too hot. -
What usually happens to mobile phones after 18 months?
Consumers usually throw them out and buy the latest model. -
What do you do with the mobile developed by English researchers when you’ve finished with it?
You simply plant it in the soil. -
What happens to the biodegradable case?
It breaks down completely within a month and fertilises the seed. -
Where does the company that makes fashionable handbags get materials from?
The company collects old car number plates from the side of roads or from junkyards. -
How can you get a personalised handbag made?
You can send your own old car number plate to the company, and they will turn it into a handbag.
D. Find words/phrases in the text and match them with the definitions 1-7.
- get rid of (introduction): dispose of
- provide energy so that sth works (para. 1): power
- produce a soft, steady light (para. 1): glow
- often (para. 2): frequently
- very keen and excited about sth one wants to do (para. 2): eager
- dangerous, harmful (para. 2): hazardous
- a place where old cars, machines, etc. are collected (para. 3): junkyard
E. Discuss.
• Which of these products would you most like to have? Why?
• Do you know of any other eco-friendly products?
I would most like to have the biodegradable mobile phone because it prevents electronic waste from ending up in landfills and turns an old gadget into a beautiful sunflower.
Yes, I know of several other eco-friendly products, such as bamboo toothbrushes, reusable beeswax food wraps, backpacks made from recycled ocean plastics, and solar-powered portable chargers.
GRAMMAR
Choose the correct option.
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I should have told my parents the truth. Now I’m in trouble.
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Look out! You could have broken that window with the football.
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My bike isn’t in the garage. My brother must have taken it.
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Freddie can’t have slept well last night. He’s very tired today.
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I repaired my old headphones, so you needn’t have bought me new ones, Mum.
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The film was awful. We ’d rather have stayed at home.
VOCABULARY
A. Match the words/phrases with the definitions a-f.
- smog — b (a mixture of smoke and fog caused by exhaust fumes and factory gases)
- acid rain — d (rain containing acids which are harmful especially to trees and forests)
- oil spill — a (an event where oil is released into the environment by accident)
- toxic waste — e (any unwanted chemical substance that is dangerous because it can harm humans and the environment)
- fossil fuels — f (substances such as coal and oil that were formed over millions of years from the remains of animals and plants, and are burnt for energy)
- alternative energy — c (power that is produced using the energy from the sun, wind, water, etc.)
B. Complete the sentences with the words in the boxes.
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When do they collect the rubbish in this neighbourhood?
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I’ve got so much junk in the garage that I need to start throwing things out.
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Governments should stop factories from pumping their waste into rivers.
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People who drop litter in the streets should be fined.
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That shirt is filthy! Put it straight in the washing machine.
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I think the most useful appliance in the home is the fridge.
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When doing DIY, it’s important to choose the right tool for the job.
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This is a great little device which helps you find your keys.
LISTEN
You will hear people talking in five different situations. For questions 1-5, choose the best answer a, b or c.
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What did the son do wrong?
a (He put the rubbish in the blue bin.) -
What are the people talking about?
b (acid rain) -
How is the machine powered?
b (solar power) -
What did the girl learn about fossil fuels?
a (They won’t last forever.) -
Which appliance is eco-friendly?
b (the washing machine)
SPEAK
A. Talk in pairs. Compare the two pictures. Discuss the ideas given, using the words/phrases in the box.
Picture A shows an urban area heavily affected by development, with busy roads, tall factories, and a lot of smog caused by poisonous chemicals. The atmosphere looks gloomy and hectic, which can make people feel stressed and unhappy, and it can also cause serious respiratory diseases. In contrast, picture B shows a peaceful rural landscape that is not affected by pollution and is very close to nature. In this kind of environment, people can breathe fresh air, grow organic food, and enjoy a much healthier and calmer lifestyle.
B. Discuss. Use the words/phrases in the box.
- What’s the place where you live like? Is it similar to either of the pictures in activity A?
- Look at picture A. Who is responsible for air pollution? What should be done about it?
The area where I live is quite urban and busy, so it looks more like picture A. There are a lot of vehicles on the roads and exhaust fumes in the air every day.
Both vehicle drivers and factory owners are responsible for air pollution in cities. The government should introduce stricter measures to solve this issue. For instance, authorities could ban cars from city centres, force polluting factories to pay heavy fines or close down, and organise campaigns to raise environmental awareness among citizens.
WRITE
A. Discuss.
- Why do you think people write letters/emails to the editors of newspapers and magazines?
- Have you ever read any of these letters/emails?
- Would you consider writing a letter / an email to the editor of a newspaper? Why? / Why not?
People usually write letters or emails to the editor to express their personal opinions on important local problems, comment on recent articles, or suggest practical solutions to community issues.
Yes, I have read letters to the editor in local newspapers and online news portals when residents discussed public transport and green spaces.
I would definitely consider writing an email to the editor if there was a serious problem in my town, such as cutting down trees in a public park or a lack of recycling facilities.
B. Read the extract from an online newspaper article and the email to the editor. Do you agree with the writer or not?
I completely agree with the writer, Paula Woodhouse. A shopping centre offers convenient services and jobs, but destroying a green area like Clifton Park is harmful to the environment and the health of local residents. It is much better to protect nature and build new commercial facilities on brownfield sites, such as the abandoned warehouses near the train station.
C. Look at the adverbs underlined in the email and choose the word/phrase from the box with the same meaning.
- certainly — definitely
- Frankly — honestly
- undoubtedly — without a doubt
D. Read the following sentences. Tick the ones that apply to the email in activity B.
- uses an appropriate greeting and signature ending. — ✓
- explains why she is writing in the first paragraph. — ✓
- uses rude language.
- justifies her opinion and gives examples. — ✓
- uses rhetorical questions for emphasis. — ✓
- makes suggestions. — ✓
- refers to specific points made in the newspaper article. — ✓
- writes in a formal style. — ✓
WRITING
E. Read the writing task and discuss the questions that follow in pairs or groups. Then complete the mind map. 1. Why do you think there is so much litter around? 2. What kind of problems does it create? 3. What do you think can be done about it?
- There is so much litter around because many people have a careless attitude and drop waste on the streets instead of looking for a bin, and there is also a lack of public rubbish bins and street cleaners in many neighbourhoods.
- It creates serious environmental and health risks by polluting soil and water, harming local wildlife, causing unpleasant smells, and making public parks and beaches unattractive and unsafe for residents.
- Local authorities can install more rubbish and recycling bins, introduce strict fines for littering, and organize environmental awareness campaigns along with community clean-up events.
Completed Mind Map: Litter
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Causes:
- irresponsible drivers
- not enough workers to collect rubbish
- lack of rubbish and recycling bins in public places
- people dropping waste without caring about the environment
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Consequences:
- danger to people’s and animals’ health
- not able to enjoy parks, beaches, etc.
- pollution of soil, air, and water
- makes the city look dirty and attracts pests
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Solutions:
- environmental awareness education
- strict fines for people who drop litter
- placing more bins in streets, parks, and bus stops
- organising regular community clean-up days
F. Write an email to the editor of the newspaper expressing your views on the issue described in the article. Use some of your ideas from activity E. Before you begin, read the tip and follow the plan in the Writing section.
To: editor@localnews.com
Subject: The growing problem of litter in our city
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to your recent article about the problem of litter in our city. As a resident who cares deeply about our community, I would like to express my views on this serious issue.
Firstly, it is true that litter has become a major concern that affects all of us. Walking around dirty streets and ruined parks is extremely unpleasant, and rubbish also poses a serious danger to people’s and animals’ health. How can we truly enjoy our city when public areas are covered in waste?
In my opinion, keeping the city clean is a shared responsibility. The local council should certainly provide more rubbish bins and employ more workers to collect waste. However, citizens must also act responsibly. If people continue to drop rubbish on the pavements, no cleaning service will ever be enough. Therefore, the authorities should introduce strict fines for littering and organize environmental awareness campaigns in local schools.
In conclusion, solving this problem requires effort from both the mayor and every individual resident. If we work together, we can make our city clean and beautiful again.
Yours faithfully,
Alex Smith