UNIT 1: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

A. WARM-UP ACTIVITIES

1. News round-ups: Talk about the latest breaking news in the

world/region/country.

2. Discussion: In pairs/groups, share with your partner(s) your knowledge and ideas
about the following keywords.

Air pollution / Fossil fuels / Climate change / Greenhouse gas emissions / Extreme
temperatures / Microplastics / Health implications / Policy changes / Global
adaptation / Environmental sustainability

3. Mind map: In groups, create a mind map of the topic Environmental Issues. Use
keywords, images, and colours to visually represent and organize the ideas.

4. Actions: What should be done to deal with these issues? Complete the following
table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you have written.
 Issues What should be done?

Air pollution

Extreme temperatures

Microplastics

5. Collocations: Write down as many collocations of the following words as

possible.

● Pollution

● Climate

● Health

Share your collocations with your partner(s) and talk about their meaning.
B. PRE-LISTENING ACTIVITIES

1. Definition match: Match the following words/ phrases taken from the pieces of
news with their definitions.

1. ubiquity (n) a. Prolonged, intense heat

2. shatter-proof (adj) b. Common or widespread

3. prevalent (adj) c. Broken piece with sharp edges

4. inflammation (n) d. The temperature

5. shard (n) e. Present everywhere

6. ingest (v) f. A condition in which a part of the

body becomes red, painful and
swollen

7. heatwave (n) g. Consume or take in

8. mercury (n) h. Resistant to breaking

2. Synonym match: Match the following words/ phrases taken from the pieces of
news with their synonyms.

1. ubiquity (n) a. ubiquitous

2. shatter-proof (adj) b. consume

3. prevalent (adj) c. fragment

4. inflammation (n) d. durable

5. shard (n) e. scorcher

6. ingest (v) f. omnipresence

7. heatwave (n) g. soreness

3. Phrase match: Match the words/ phrases in the two columns to make meaningful
phrases. In some cases, more than one choice is possible.

1. record a. hot weather

2. heat b. weather

3. extreme c. alerts

4. air quality d. update

5. environmental e. limits

6. energy f. damage

7. shocking g. security

h. clean

i. finding

C. WHILE-LISTENING ACTIVITIES

1. True/False: Before listening to the news, guess whether the following statements
are True (T) or False (F). Then listen ONCE and check your answers.

True False

Piece 1

1. Microplastics were found in the human heart for the first

time.
 2. The scientists collected cardiac tissue samples from 25
patients.

3. Scientists estimate that the average person consumes

around 10 grams of microplastics a week.

Piece 2

4. The UN weather agency warned that extreme

temperatures are becoming the new normal.

5. People are choosing to go to hotter countries instead of

traditional hotspots like Spain and Italy.

6. In Death Valley, California, the temperature was 53.9ºC

during the extreme heatwave.

Piece 3

7. The WHO found that 99% of people on Earth breathe air

that exceeds WHO air quality limits.

8. The WHO report suggested moving away from fossil

fuels to combat air pollution.

9. The WHO report recommended the exclusive use of

clean household energy for cooking, heating, and
lighting as a measure to combat air pollution.

2. Suitable headings: Listen and choose the suitable heading for each piece of news.
Check your answers with your partner(s).
Piece 1

a. Plastic's Silent Threat: Microplastics Detected in Human Hearts

b. The Rise of Microplastics: A Decade-Long Environmental Concern

c. Microplastics and Their Impact: A Global Health Crisis Unveiled

Piece 2

a. Europe's Summer Scorch: Heatwave Alerts and Travel Changes

b. Global Warming Impact: Extreme Temperatures Hit Record Highs

c. Record-Breaking Heatwaves: The New Normal According to the UN

Piece 3

a. Fossil Fuel Dangers: WHO's Urgent Call for Cleaner Energy

b. Global Air Crisis: WHO Reveals Alarming Pollution Levels

c. Worldwide Urgency: WHO's Recommendations for Clean Air Solutions

3. Main ideas: State the main idea of each piece of news in one sentence.

Piece 1

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Piece 2

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Piece 3
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4. Gap filling: Listen and fill in each gap with no more than 5 words.

Piece 1

While many of us are aware of the environmental damage done by plastic, fewer
people know about the threat from the (1) ………………………… Scientists first
found them in our bodies more than a decade ago. Worryingly, researchers have now
found them in (2) .................................................................................... Scientists at
the Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China collected (3) ........................................ from
15 patients undergoing heart surgery. After analyzing the samples, they discovered
tiny pieces of plastic, from a (4)
.............................................................................................. They included a plastic
commonly used as a shatter-proof alternative to glass, a polythene widely used in
clothing and food containers, and a polyvinyl chloride used in construction.

The scientists reported finding, "tens to thousands of (5) ........................... in most

tissue samples". (6) .............................. are released into the body, potentially
leading to allergic reactions, cancer, cell death, and chronic inflammation, among
other complications. Scientists reckon the average person consumes around five
grams of microplastics a week, or 52,000 particles a year. Microplastics are so
prevalent that they make up (7) .................................................... of dust particles in
our homes. Scientists say these tiny shards are near-impossible to remove from the
body. They say it is (8) ..................................................................... to limit the
amount of plastic we breathe in, ingest, swallow or absorb.

(Breaking News, 7th April 2022)

5. Comprehension questions: Listen and answer the following questions.

Piece 2

1. What is the primary warning issued by the United Nations weather agency, and
why is it significant?

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2. What impact does extreme weather, as mentioned in the article, have on society
according to the United Nations spokesperson?

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3. How is society advised to adapt to the "new normal" of extreme temperatures,

according to the United Nations spokesperson?

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4. What change in travel patterns is highlighted in the article due to extreme heat,
and what is the response of holidaymakers?

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5. In what way is the European Travel Commission responding to the impact of
extreme heat on travel plans, and what specific example is given in the article?

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(Breaking News, 20th July 2023)

Piece 3

1. What is the main finding of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding air
quality, as mentioned in the article?

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2. When did the WHO release its air quality update, and what event is mentioned in
connection with it?

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3. According to the article, what percentage of the world's population breathes air
exceeding WHO air quality limits?

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4. What is emphasized in the WHO report as a key factor in addressing air pollution,
and what are the reasons mentioned in the article?

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5. What does the WHO recommend regarding energy systems, and what specific
measures are mentioned in the article?

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(Breaking News, 14th August 2023)

6. News reproduction: Listen and take notes of each piece of news. Use any short
forms, abbreviations, signs, symbols to ease your writing. Then reproduce each
piece of news, using your notes.

Piece 2

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D. POST-LISTENING ACTIVITIES

1. Vocabulary recall: Look at the words below. With your partner(s), try to recall
how they were used in each piece of news.

ubiquity omnipresence record hot weather

shatter-proof durable heat alerts

prevalent ubiquitous extreme weather

inflammation soreness air quality limits

shard scorcher environmental damage

ingest consume energy security

heatwave fragment shocking finding

 mercury temp

2. Collocations & expressions: Fill in the blanks with suitable words to make
appropriate collocations.

climate change energy security environmental damage

household energy shocking finding record hot weather

heat alerts extreme weather air quality limits

preventable death

1. Last summer, we experienced ……………………………………………,

with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius.

2. The meteorological department issued …………………………

………………… as the city braced for an upcoming heatwave.

3. …………………………………………… events, such as hurricanes and

droughts, are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

4. Governments worldwide are struggling to meet

……………………………………………, leading to health concerns for
citizens.

5. The industrial plant was responsible for significant

……………………………………………, polluting the nearby river and air.
 6. …………………………………………… is a top priority for nations,
especially as they seek alternatives to fossil fuels.

7. The scientist's research revealed a ……………………………………………:

microplastics were present in the most remote areas of the ocean.

8. …………………………………………… poses a serious threat to

biodiversity and ecosystems, requiring urgent global action.

9. The government introduced initiatives to promote the use of electric cars and
improve …………………………………………… efficiency.

10. The WHO's report emphasized the importance of reducing air pollution to
prevent millions of …………………………………………… globally.

3. Summary: Summarize the main points of each piece of news, using your own
words.

E. EXTENDED ACTIVITIES

1. Further discussion: Express your opinion on the following topics and provide
justification for your answer.

● How can regulations to control the presence of microplastics be implemented

effectively?

● What are potential economic and social consequences for countries

experiencing heatwaves?

● What are challenges of transitioning to cleaner energy sources in both

developed and developing countries?

2. Vocabulary extension: Choose several of the words from the news. Build up more
associations/collocations of each word.
3. Information search: Search the Internet and find out more about Environmental
Issues. Share what you have discovered with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

4. Mini presentation: In groups, prepare a mini presentation on Environmental

Issues.

5. Essay: Write a 150-word essay about Environmental Issues. Exchange your work
with your partners and give comments.