B2 – Upper Intermediate
While nature provides water, many of us depend on a sophisticated system of pipelines, pumps, and other equipment. An industrialized society depends on the services that a water supply system offers, including the delivery of water from sources to users. The economic health, security, and social cohesion of the communities are all closely related to water supply systems.
Watch the video about and uncover the secrets of New York’s complex water system.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “sizeable” mean in this sentence? “The water shortage is mostly due to lack of sizeable supply of fresh water.” Give 2 synonyms of the word.
- What does the term“tidal estuary” mean? “The East River is a tidal estuary.”. Make your own sentence using the term.
- In the sentence, “Two of the world’s longest and largest aqueducts were built to accomplish this.”, what does “aqueducts” mean?
Discussion Questions:
- Is the water supply abundant in your country?
- Where does your city get its water from?
- Are there laws regulating the usage of water in your country?
- Do you worry about the future availability of water?
- What do you think will happen if the water supply in your country or city gets cut off?
3 replies on “New York’s Water System Is Complex”
1. No, Spain is a country in risk of desertification -at least- the south half of the Iberian Peninsula.
2. Madrid takes the water via a network of reservoirs and underground wells and that’ is entirely managed by an entity called Canal de Isabel II since 1851.
3. Yes, water laws and regulations are part of the autonomous communities with general policies defined by the nation’s government. Nowadays the administration of this resource is a matter of dispute among the autonomous and the central governments is quite a high risk of harming certain regions for the benefit of others and creating inequality.
4. That would be another war. We will need to learn very quickly to care for the water and develop new infrastructures to an efficient use of that resource.
1. What does ”to take the plunge” mean, “But if the 54-year-old could go back, he may never have taken the plunge.”? Use this expression in your own sentence. Make a jump. If I could go back, I would never have taken the plung to Paint my room with a dark colour.
2. What does “to hang one’s own shingle” mean, “Of course, there are plenty of success stories, and many people who hang their own shingles would never look back.”? Use this expression in your own sentence. When I left Spain and went t olive to NYC, I hung my own shingles and never looked back.
3. What does “to follow one’s footstep” mean, “Still, Schreim is cautious about encouraging anyone else to follow in his footsteps.”? Use this expression in your own sentence. I hope that my son follows in my footsteps and continues our family business.
Questions:
– What are some benefits of starting your own business? Some benefits of starting your own businnes are: not having a boss over your head; not having to report results to anyone; making your own decisions about the organization of your company; deciding on the investments to made.
– What are some risks of putting up your own firm? Some risk of puttin up your own company are: liquidity risk; to achieving solvency in case of an economic crisis; not desconnecting form your work in your free time.
– Being an entrepreneur isn’t an easy lifestyle. Share your thoughts on this.: Being an entrepreneur can mean not being able to switch off the work and no being able to protect your free time. You may feel anxious all the time.
– What things one should consider and keep in mind when starting their own business: I believe that when you decide to start your own business you need to have a Good business and economic plan. You need to separate your work from your private life. And you have to be able to say “no” when necessary
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