Tag: Environment

Electricity

B1 – Intermediate

Electricity is defined as a form of power that modern age people have a tough time surviving without. It has a great influence in media both in communication and entertainment. It powers almost all the appliances that are used on a daily basis such as telephones and cellphones.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about electricity.

https://listenaminute.com/e/electricity.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does the word “flick” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. Explain the word important and use it in a sentence.
  3. What does the word “dangerous” mean? Give 2 synonyms.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is electricity?
  2. What kind of world would we live in without electricity?
  3. Do you think electricity is the greatest invention ever? Why / Why not?
  4. What dangers does electricity pose in your house?
  5. What do you do to save on your electricity bills?

Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

B2 – Upper Intermediate

For years, scientists have been looking for alternative energy sources to end our dependence on fossil fuels.

American scientists have successfully produced a nuclear fusion reaction.

Read the article and watch the video to know more about the ‘holy grail’ of clean energy.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/12/us/common-questions-nuclear-fusion-climate/index.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “breakthrough” mean? Give at least 3 synonyms of this word.
  2. What does “abatement” mean? Use it in your own sentence.
  3. What does the phrase, “a race against the clock” mean? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is nuclear fusion and why does it matter?
  2. What are the pros and the challenges in generating nuclear fusion?
  3. What are your thoughts on this milestone?

Incorrect Battery Disposal Causes Needless Fires

B1 – Intermediate

One of the most common energy sources is batteries. Everyone uses them. However, if we are not careful in handling their disposal, they could cause fires that could have really serious consequences.

Read this lesson about how incorrectly disposing batteries can start needless fires.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2212/221205-batteries-4.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “needless” mean? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “bit” mean in this sentence, “Everyone can do their bit…by disposing of batteries correctly.”? Use it in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the uses of batteries?
  2. What are the consequences of incorrectly disposing them?
  3. What are the best ways to dispose of batteries?

Billionaires’ CO2 Emissions

B1 – Intermediate

Some of the world’s wealthiest billionaires produce incredible high amount of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Their investments and luxurious lifestyles are the main causes of this unsustainable amounts of carbon emission. How exactly does this affect the entire population?

Let’s read the article and know more about this issue.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2211/221110-super-rich-co2-emissions-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the very wealthy people contribute in climate change?
  2. How can these billionaire investors reduce the intensity of their emissions?
  3. “Billionaires have escaped accountability for too long.” What are your thoughts on this statement?
  4. How do you think they can be held accountable?

Buy Nothing Day and Stop Over-Consumption

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Will you accept the challenge of buying fewer things?

Look at a popular online magazine headline and talk about your shopping habits and how they could influence your life and our planet.

Greenpeace campaigner Bonnie Tang said: “Hong Kongers love buying clothes and, apparently, throwing them away as well. At the rate they are entering our landfills we have to wonder why they are buying so many outfits only to throw them into trash bins. This level of wasteful consumption is ultimately a heavy burden on the environment.”

A Greenpeace study on the amount of textiles discarded in Hong Kong over the past 10 years found that the weight of discarded clothing averaged 100,000 tonnes annually. Although the amount of clothes being thrown away remains high, the government fails to collect and provide statistics on the environmental costs of public consumption or wastage of clothing.

“The issue of clothing waste has many mini-solutions including recycling, upcycling, and donation, however the thread that is woven throughout this issue is overconsumption,” Tang added. “Overconsumption is fueled by consumer demand and met all too enthusiastically by the fast fashion industry.”

Greenpeace calls on the Hong Kong public to acknowledge the impact that high consumption levels have on the environment. Consumers are urged to reduce unnecessary spending and adopt more environmentally-friendly consumption habits, such as buying clothes made from non-toxic materials, wearing second-hand clothes, repairing worn clothes, and not discarding old clothes.

Facts retrieved from https://www.greenpeace.org/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you have a lot of clothes or do you have a small wardrobe?
  2.  What can people do to minimize the negative effect of their shopping habits?
  3.  Have you ever thought about changing your shopping habits?

Autumn

B1 – Intermediate

Autumn is one of the most wonderful season out of the four because not only do the leaves change in color, but also the temperature is very inviting. Autumn has its own unique beauty and it is a great time to enjoy the season and create lasting memories.

Listen to this audio and read the transcript below about autumn.

https://listenaminute.com/a/autumn.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of when you think of the autumn season?
  2. What are the good and bad things about autumn?
  3. Does your town have any festivals or special events in autumn? Talk about it.
  4. Describe your city in autumn.
  5. What’s your favorite autumn memory?
  6. What is your favorite season? Why is it your favorite?

We Will Fix Climate Change

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Climate change has been a big problem for humanity for a while now, but as each day passes, our hope continues to dwindle.

But what many are trying to hide from you is that we still have a chance to fight back and if anything, we should be more hopeful about climate change.

Things have been getting better, but we all need to help if we want to reach a good ending. One might ask, “Where is the proof?”.

To find out more about what we ought to be doing to tackle climate change, let’s watch this video.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe climate change is an existential threat? Elaborate on your thoughts.
  2. Talk about your country’s net zero goals.
  3. After finding about all of this, how has your view about climate change changed?
  4. If you could, what would you do to help beat climate change?

Coca-Cola’s Returnable Bottles

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Coca-Cola believes that reusable packaging is among the most effective way to reduce waste, use fewer resources, and lower the carbon footprint in support of a circular economy. Consequently, they aim to have at least 25% of all their beverages sold globally in refillable/returnable glass or plastic bottles or in refillable containers by 2030.

Read the article to know more about Coca Cola’s returnable bottles and be able to answer the questions that follow.

https://www.treehugger.com/coca-cola-returnable-bottles-5219470

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of Coca-Cola company using returnable bottles? Is it probably greenwashing? Explain your stand.
  2. What would be the impact of its change in packaging?
  3. What are the benefits and drawbacks of using reusable packaging?
  4. What are some practices that you do in order to reduce your carbon footprint?

Weather and Tea

B1 – Intermediate

Tea is such an important drink all over the world. India is one of the main sources of it. However, due to the very unpredictable weather these days, tea farmers are having problems in growing tea in their plantations.

If this problem persists, it could cause a shortage in tea supply in the world. 

Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problems in tea production caused by extreme weather changes.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/weather-and-tea-level-3/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this news?
  2. Are there tea plantations in your country? How are their conditions nowadays?
  3. What agricultural problems do you have in your country that is caused by unpredictable weather?
  4. How important is tea in your country or for you?
  5. What are the health benefits of drinking tea?

Drought Hits Europe’s Rivers and Crops

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The scorching heat is an ongoing problem face by all of Europe. This extended drought has caused riverbeds to be exposed which has led to restrictions on water use in a lot of places.

Read the article to know more about the drought that’s been affecting Europe’s rivers and crops.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62466990

Discussion Questions:

  1. Share your reaction to this news.
  2. Talk about the good and bad effects of this drought on different European countries.
  3. Choose a photo from the article, describe it, and talk about how/why it caught your attention.
  4. Describe the drought in your country.
  5. “The boom in Spain’s intensive agriculture has fueled concern about its sustainability, given the pressure on water resources in hotter climatic conditions.” What is your opinion on this?