Unit 5

The Environment Around

The World Unit Five Lesson 1
Getting started!
Is recycling really helpful?
Listening Grammar Why is it important to reduce and to reuse
materials?
Speaking Vocabulary
What items can easily be recycled?
Reading Pronunciation Would you recycle more if recycling were easier?
Writing How is our own health affected by the environment?

Achievement indicators
I can confidently and respectfully exchange ideas and opinions on I can write ideas and opinions about environmental problems in my
Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 society and the world with correct grammar and syntax.
environmental issues during group work.
Pollutants Oil spills Global warming Natural disasters Protection of the I can suggest solutions to environmental and health problems with
environment appropriate use of infinitive clauses and phrases.

Conversation and more

Listen to and read the following conversation. Look up
Activity 1
any new words in a dictionary.
Answer the following questions about the conversation.
Unit guidelines A: Hi, Patty. This is Walter.
In this unit you will practice using vocabulary related to environmental and health topics. You will consider the cause and effect B: Hi, Walter. How are you doing? 1. What kind of project is Walter inviting Patty to?
relationships of different environmental and health problems and look for solutions. You will use pre-reading strategies to A: I’m doing well. I am calling to see if you would 2. After spending the morning cleaning up around the
activate the knowledge that you already have. You will practice skimming texts to understand the main idea and scanning like to come with us to the river tomorrow for a river, what are they going to do in the afternoon?
texts in search of specific information. You will learn strategies for editing and revising and will practice these editing volunteer clean up project. We are going to collect
strategies on your own work. trash from around the river during the morning 3. What does Walter suggest that Patty should wear?
and have a barbeque in the afternoon. 4. What time is everybody going to meet at the river?
B: That sounds like fun. What time is everybody
going to the river? 5. What is Patty going to bring for the barbeque?
Introduction: Hands on! A: Around 8:00 a.m.
In this unit you will write about solutions to environmental problems. You will begin the writing process by B: Should I bring anything?
brainstorming the cause and effect relationships that have led to environmental damage and degradation. You will also A: Just clothes that can get dirty and a good pair
brainstorm solutions to these problems.You will practice revision strategies such as proofreading and peer editing as of boots.
part of the writing process. In the unit project, you will write a complete essay in which you will present a solution to a B: And for the barbeque?
specific environmental problem. The unit five project is called “Environmental problems and solutions”. A: The barbeque will be there next to the river. If you
want, you could bring some drinks.
B: Ok, I’ll see you there.

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UNIT 5 UNIT 5

Language in use
Enrich your vocabulary Using the infinitive
Do you reduce, reuse and recycle to help the
environment? Listen to and read the following passage When a verb appears in its simple form after the article
about these three concepts. “to,” it is an infinitive verb. Some examples of infinitive
verbs are “to be,” “to do,” “to try,” and “to work”. Infinitive
verbs are used in English the same way that they are used
The easiest way we can help solve the pollution problem in Spanish.
is to _(1)_ the amount of trash we produce. We can
limit the amount of trash we throw away by avoiding The following paragraph about carbon dioxide emissions
disposable products like _(2)_ forks and Styrofoam cups has several examples of infinitive verbs. Read the
and by avoiding products with lots of plastic packaging. paragraph and notice how these verbs are used.
Reusing materials is something that we do every day that Organizations are trying to reduce greenhouse gases.
also reduces the amount of garbage that we throw away.
When you _(3)_ a plastic bag from the supermarket
In Europe, factories and businesses that produce a lot
of carbon dioxide (CO2) have to pay money for the air
Activity 7
to collect household trash, you get more use out of a pollution they cause. Companies that reduce the amount
disposable product. of CO2 that goes into the atmosphere are able to receive Complete the following sentences using the infinitive verbs you
listed in Activity 6.
After we reduce the amount of trash we produce and
Activity 4 money from the biggest polluters. This encourages
polluters to produce less CO2 in order to save or even to 1. I have __ dinner early tonight.
reuse as many items as _(4)_, we can still _(5)_ many make money. 2. We have __ $175 per month to rent this house.
items that are no longer useful. Recycling materials like Answer the following questions about recycling in your
glass, aluminum, and paper saves energy and _(6)_ the community. 3. Diana bought fluorescent lights __ electricity.
environment. 1. Do you know any people or businesses that collect 4. The new hydroelectric dam is able __ enough
plastic materials to be recycled? 6 Activity
5.
electricity to power 2,000 homes.
We need to burn less fossil fuels __ the amount of
2. Where is the nearest place where you can sell
aluminum items like soda cans? air pollution.
2 Activity 3. Does your town have a recycling program?
List the six infinitive verbs used in the paragraph above. 6. My cousin told me that I am going __ a package in
the mail.
4. How could recycling be made easier?

Listen to the passage again. Fill in the blanks with the

words that you hear.
Activity 5 Activity 8
Each of the following five sentences contains a verb that is not
in its infinitive form. Identify the verb in each sentence and
3 Activity
Decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. You make less trash when you use fewer
write it in its infinitive form. Follow the example below.

disposable products.
Example: I rode to school in the bus.
What are some ways that you reuse materials in your home or 2. Plastic bags are not useful after you leave
Answer: to ride
at work? Make a list of 5 items that you reuse on a the supermarket.
regular basis. 3. If you can reduce the amount of trash that you throw 1. The clowns told jokes.
away, you are helping to solve the pollution problem. 2. We were happy.
4. Many disposable items can be reused. 3. The airplane flew over San Vicente.
5. Recycling is not a good way to reduce pollution. 4. They saw the sunrise.
5. I pay the rent for my house.

Glossary: Greenhouse effect: the warming of the earth caused by sunlight that trapped by
Greenhouse: a building used in cold climates for growing plants. In a greenhouse, certain gases and pollutants as if the earth were a giant greenhouse.
sunlight enters through glass or clear plastic and warms the inside.

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UNIT 5 UNIT 5

Time to read
Conversation and more
Tomasino is trying to sell his house, and Marco is
Don’t forget! You can often learn the meaning of new words from the
context. Read the passage below and use the context to
Activity 10
a potential buyer. Listen to and read the following determine the meaning of unknown words.
A compost pile reduces the amount of garbage that we
conversation between them. Look up any new words in throw away by reusing and recycling organic material. The following words were used in the previous passage. Look
a dictionary. This organic fertilizer can be used in gardens and on carefully at the context in which the words were used. Match
The desire to have a house on the edge of a river or next the definitions below with the words in the box.
household plants. It is a great substitute for chemical to a lake has caused the destruction of many wetlands.
A: It is pretty hot in this neighborhood. fertilizer. Well made compost contains nitrogen,
B: Yes, at this time of day it is. It used to be a lot cooler Overbuilding in wetland areas has affected many types overbuilding wetland flood
potassium, phosphorous and other trace elements that of wildlife. As wetlands are removed, fish and birds that
here when there were more trees. improve soil fertility and help make plants grow. wildlife habitat
A: I like this house and the location is very good depend on wetlands lose their natural habitat.
because it is close to where I work. I just don’t think
that I could get used to this heat. Another problem is that removing wetlands can cause
serious flooding. Wetlands act like a sponge that absorbs 1. too much construction
B: There used to be a big mango tree that gave the
house a lot of shade. It was less hot then. Last year and slows the movement of water. When wetlands are 2. an area of land that is usually wet, often on the edge
we cut down the mango tree to plant those two filled in or removed, the risk of flooding increases. of a body of water
avocado trees. As the avocado trees grow, there 3. a certain type of environment or place where
will be a lot more shade. something lives
A: Yes, I suppose that the shade they give will cool the 4. destruction caused by large amounts of water
house a lot, but it will take a few years before that
happens. 5. wild, undomesticated animals
B: The soil here is very good. We have always had a
compost pile. We add the compost to the trees to
help them grow.
A: I see.
B: Well, Marco, think it over and if you have any
other questions let me know.
A: Ok, Tomasino, it was nice meeting you.
B: You too.
Hands on! 5A

What are some examples of environmental

9 Activity damage or degradation? Brainstorm different
forms of environmental damage or degradation.
Make sure to write down all the ideas that occur
Choose the letter that best answers the following questions. to you.
Choose one example from your list. Write two
Questions Answers paragraphs about this example of environmental
1 Why does Marco like the location of the house? A It is hot. damage. Describe how it occurred, what the result
2 What used to give the house a lot of shade? B It is close to where he works. was and how it has affected peoples’ lives.

3 What does Marco not like about the house? C A big mango tree.

4 What did Tomasino plant that will give the house D Compost.
more shade in the future?
5 What does Tomasino add to his fruit trees to E Two avocado trees.
help them grow?

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UNIT 5 UNIT 5

Conversation and more

What for?
13 Activity Activity 15
Listen to Sarah talking about how contamination was
affecting her family and what they did about it. El Salvador is the most deforested country in all of the
Our personal health depends in many ways on Complete the following sentences with the infinitive verbs Americas. This means that the percentage of land in El
the health of the environment. We depend on given below. Salvador with original forest is less than any other country in
a clean and healthy environment for the air we the hemisphere. Write a paragraph containing three or four
11 Activity breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.
to see
to boil
to recycle
to avoid
to reduce
sentences describing how you think this has happened and
what you think should be done about it.

1. Outhouses should be built away from rivers or

Listen to the passage one more time, and then decide
whether the following statements are true or false. 2.
streams in order __ contamination.
Some cases of soil erosion are so severe that you
Activity 16
have __ it to believe it.
1. Sarah’s mom has a gas stove. Write sentences using each verb in the infinitive.
3. Some people who drink water from wells or spring
2. The kitchen at Sara’s house was not well ventilated. have __ the water first to avoid getting sick. 1. to use
3. It was in July that her mom got sick. 4. Some towns have begun new programs that make it 2. to keep
easier __.
4. The doctor said that her mom had a heart attack. 3. to cook
5. Reusing products like plastic bags or plastic bottles
5. The doctor recommended that her mom avoid is a great way to __ the amount of garbage that we 4. to use
inhaling smoke. throw away. 5. to have
6. to protect
6. They installed a chimney in the kitchen.
7. to prevent
14 Activity

12 Activity
Listen to the following sentences and fill in the blanks
with the words you hear.
Match the phrases on the left with the phrases on the right to make complete sentences.
1. Scientists have determined that the __ effect is
causing global warming.
1 In order to have safe drinking water A that is why it is necessary to cook pork 2. __ help to absorb and to slow the movement of
well before eating it. water and can reduce the risk of __.
2 To prevent respiratory problems B we need to protect our water supply from 3. Many types of __ are at risk of extinction because of
contamination. the loss of __.
3 Many parasites can live in both pigs and C because water contamination has resulted 4. __ is an easy way to __ organic material to improve
humans, in high levels of mercury in many species. __ quality.
4 Pregnant women are told not to eat too D it is important to avoid having smoke in
much fish the home. Lesson core
5 It is a good idea to use sunscreen E because too much exposure to sunlight
can increase the risk of skin cancer. In this lesson you have presented your own ideas and opinions about
environmental issues. You have practiced using infinitive clauses and phrases.
You have written and edited your own writing about environmental problems
and solutions and considered the effect of loss of habitat on wildlife.

Glossary:
Outhouse: a small structure outside of a home with a toilet. Outhouses do not have
running water.

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UNIT 4

Self evaluation
Choose the letter that best answers each question or statement.

1 Which items should go into a compost

pile? 3 One way to help the environment is
___.
a) banana peels, mango peels, a) recycle
apple cores b) to recycle
b) steel, iron, copper c) recyclable
c) plastic, glass, newspaper d) bicycle
d) lawn chairs, sunscreen, bathing caps

2 The ___ is the warming of the earth that

is caused by gasses that trap the heat from
sunlight.
4 Which of the following verbs are in the
infinitive?
a) singing, dancing, running
a) wetland b) sang, danced, ran
b) wildlife c) singer, dancer, runner
c) greenhouse effect d) to sing, to dance, to run
d) reduce, reuse, recycle

4. d 3. b 2. c 1. a Answers:

RECYCLING INCENTIVES

Used aluminum, copper and paper are some of

the materials that can be sold to recyclers. Many
people collect items like aluminum cans to sell the
metal to recyclers. Some countries and regions
have tried to increase the incentives for recycling.
In the U.S., the state of Massachusetts charges 5
cents for each aluminum can that is purchased.
When people return cans to be recycled, the state
pays them 5 cents per can.

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