SAVING THE PLANET
Years ago there wasn't a problem with rubbish because things like plastic and disposable nappies
hadn't been invented. There wasn't so much packaging on items you bought either. But now with
everything so over packaged wrapped and disposable we are suffering the consequences of far too
much waste. The trouble is not everything can be recycled or will rot away. You used to be able to
get a refund on glass bottles when you took them back to the shop. Now they are either collected
from your house by the council or you can take them to a bottle bank.
The fact, that paper can be recycled and is easy to dispose is great, but remember paper is made
from trees, which are important to the environment. The rainforests have been slowly disappearing
for a while now. We need them not just because it helps with the climate. They are important as like
all plants they give us oxygen. They are also a home to many animals that rely on them for their
survival.
The best waste is organic, dead leaves; carrot tops, onion skins and so on all rot down and make
fertile soil. This in turn will help the plants and vegetables giving them much needed food. So if you
are able to have a compost heap in your garden you'll be helping the environment and your garden
will love you for it.
Acid rain is another serious problem it is damaging to plants and is caused by pollutants such as
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These come from the burning of coal, oil and gas.
Dropping litter is not just a lazy thing to do, it makes work for other people, is bad for the
environment and looks ugly. So think before you drop litter either bin it or keep it and then bin it.
When rivers and seas are polluted by waste we are not only stealing their beauty but were spoiling it
for ourselves too. Our health can also suffer. Sadly accidents do occur; oil slicks sometimes happen
and wreck the environment. Animals tend to suffer the most from these incidents. We should really
have in place something that will prevent so much destruction, rather than just waiting for it to
happen, then trying to clean up the damage.
Nuclear waste has been the cause of controversy over the years. Radioactive material leaking out
would be very serious indeed, it can cause real harm. This is why it is the most worrying.
Although we are trying to stop the hole in the ozone layer getting any bigger, nuclear waste is still a
serious problem. The ozone layer protects us from harmful ultra - violet rays. Its hole has been
caused by chlorofluorocarbons (cfc's) a chemical that was found in some products. Refrigerators
used to contain them. So do we care enough about the earth we have inherited and our passing onto
future generations? Or is it now all too late to do anything? Each one of us can make a difference
and each and every one of us is responsible to the environment. It takes care of us; we should take
care of it.
A) Say who or what the following words refer to.
1. them ------------------------------------
2. they -------------------------------------
3. them ------------------------------------
4. us ---------------------------------------
5. that -------------------------------------
6. them ------------------------------------
7. these ------------------------------------
8. it ----------------------------------------
B) Say if the following statements are True or False. Correct the false ones.
1. Some years ago diapers weren’t used. -----------------------------------------------------------------
2. Nowadays products are over packaged. ----------------------------------------------------------------
3. Some products are difficult to destroy. -----------------------------------------------------------------
4. Both animals and humans need trees to survive. ------------------------------------------------------
5. Acid rain is caused by organic waste. -------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Ozone layer depletion and nuclear waste are two most serious problems. ---------------------------
C) Protecting the environment is our own responsibility. What can you do to make our planet a
better place? Write an opinion essay (180 – 200 words).
