B2 – Upper Intermediate
Living in the driest place on Earth can be a real challenge for people who reside there. It is especially a serious problem in agriculture. Farmers rely on steady irrigation to water their crops.
Yuma, an area on the border of California and Mexico and famous for date farming, is one of the hottest places on the planet. It has been suffering the worst drought in more than five centuries.
Ole Sivertsen and his company Desert Control have come up with a solution. They have invented a liquid that converts sandy desert soil into a sponge that retains water and nutrients.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about liquid clay that helps farmers grow fruit and vegetables in the desert.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240919
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “kick-start” mean? “Ole makes a liquid by mixing clay and water which changes the soil composition and kick-starts the growth of his trees – the liquid makes the trees start growing more quickly.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘kick-start’ in your own sentence.
- What does the idiom “down the line” mean? “Ole’s liquid clay involves manipulating soil – using and controlling it skillfully to achieve some result. Myra worries that when people do this, they could create problems down the line.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘down the line’ in your own sentence.
- What does “cling” mean? “But clay soil is made up of much smaller particles that cling together and naturally stop water from escaping.” Give two (2) synonyms or similar expressions and use ‘cling’ in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What can you say about the liquid clay? Cite its advantages and disadvantages.
- What could be some problems associated with liquid clay down the line?
- Is drought also a problem in your country? What are some initiatives to fight against water shortage? Talk about it.
- Share your thoughts/reaction to this, “But globally, over two billion people, around a quarter of the world’s population, live in water stressed countries, where access to water for drinking, cooking, and washing is not guaranteed.”.
- What might be some other problems farmers need to deal with in your country? How are they being addressed?
- What are the potential impacts of drought in agriculture?