Colegio Rubn Castro English Department Miss Marcela Mora

Unit 4: What we can do Reading Comprehension: We can control global warming

1. Talk to the classmate next to you and discuss your ideas on global warming. Take some notes to share with the class. _____________________ ___________________ ______________________ _____________________ ___________________ ______________________ _____________________ ___________________ ______________________

2. Match the words with their meanings.

Committee Greenhouse Ozone layer Droughts Spending patterns Addressing Output Floods the act of giving money for goods and services in a particular way a long period when there is little or no rain to give attention to or to deal with a matter or problem a layer that protects the earth from the suns ultraviolet light a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry an amount that a person or organization produces a group of people chosen to act on matters of a particular kind the warming of the earth because of heat trapped by carbon dioxide

3. What we can do: rank these things from 1-7. Which are best to control climate change? Walk or take public transport instead of driving Replace your electricity supply with renewable energy such as solar or wind power Use the lights in your house less Replace your electrical appliances with more energy efficient ones Plant a tree in the forest Recycle everything you use Donate money to organizations pushing for controls on global warming

4. Read the news on global warming and fill in the gaps with the words from the box.

A United Nations committee ________ climate change has said we can control global warming. The panel, made ________ of representatives from over 120 countries, believes we can limit the ________ greenhouse gases do to the atmosphere. Its report concluded the picture of Armageddon ________ by many scientists will not happen if we use technology and have the right strategies to protect the ozone layer. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the panel, told reporters in Bangkok that the study was a remarkable ________ forward. The panel indicated that we can keep our Earth safe by changing the ________ we use energy around the world. Most important is to introduce more fuel efficient vehicles and household goods. For ________ to happen, individuals need to change their lifestyles and spending ________. Report co-author Pete Smith said: We can go a ________ way to addressing this problem at relatively low costs with a range of ________. He calculated that it would cost ________ than three percent of world economic output by 2030. He added: We've got a big problem on our ________ [but] this report provides governments with a way out." The big problem is the damage rising temperatures are doing to the Earth. Increased floods, droughts, rising sea ________, more violent and destructive storms and extinctions of ________ are just a few things threatening the life of our planet. The report stressed the urgent need for introducing a wide variety of ________ technologies. Harlan Watson, head of the U.S. team, warned: If we continue to do what we are doing, then we are in ________ trouble.

this painted up way on step patterns harm

less clean hands species long deep levels options

5. Circle the modal verbs that are in the text and decide whether you can use another one without changing the meaning of the sentence.

6. Answer the following questions about the text: a. According to the UN committee, is it possible for us to stop global warming? How? . . b. Why wont the climate Armageddon happen? . . c. Is it expensive to save the planet? . . d. What is the big problem? . . 7. Underline the unfamiliar words and write them down. Then, try to identify their meaning by context. If you have problems, use the dictionary.

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8. In the text, the author is trying to focus the readers attention on the dangers that global warming brings to our lives. However, the author also points out some of the solutions. Write 6 sentences, using the modals you have learnt, stating how we can stop global warming. EX: We must turn off the lights when we leave a room. We have to save energy!