Task 2 – Multi-text reading

In this section, there are four short texts for you to read and some questions for you to
answer.

Questions 16-20 (one mark per question)

Read questions 16-20 first and then read text A, B, C, and D below the questions.
As you read each text, decide which text each question refers to. Choose one letter –
A, B, C, or D – and write it on the lines below. You can use any letter more than once.
Which text
16. suggest that pollution has been reduced? _____
17. defines how the natural environment is being degraded? _____
18. explains the consequences of pollution? ______
19. deals with a movement to raise environmental awareness? _____
20. explains the Green House effect? _____
Text A
1. Adapted from http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/earth-day
Earth Day
Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now
a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full
seven days of events focused on green awareness. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord
Nelson and inspired by the anti-war protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was
originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. It began as a “national
teach-in on the environment” and was held on April 22 to maximize the number of
students that could be reached on university campuses. By raising public awareness
of air and water pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the
national spotlight.

Text B
2. Adapted from
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/readingpollutionenvironmentissues.

A. Could you explain what is pollution?

B. Pollution is the degradation of natural environment by external substances
introduced directly or indirectly. Pollution occurs when ecosystems cannot
get rid of substances introduced into the environment.
A. What are the sources of pollution?
B. They are numerous. The identification of these different pollutants and their
 effects on ecosystems is complex. They can come from natural disasters or
the result of human activity, such as oil spills, chemical spills, nuclear
accidents ... These can have terrible consequences on people and the planet
where they live: destruction of the biodiversity, increased mortality of the
human and animal species, destruction of natural habitat, damage caused to
the quality of soil, water and air ...
A. How can we reduce pollution?
Preventing pollution and protecting the environment necessitate the
application of the principles of sustainable development. we must consider
to satisfy the needs of today without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their needs. This means that we should remedy existing
pollution, but also anticipate and prevent future pollution sources to protect
environment and public health.

Text C
3. Obtained from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/
2014/09/140912_witn_ozone.shtml

Ozone layer ‘recovering’

The Earth's protective ozone layer is starting to repair itself, according to a panel of
United Nations scientists. The main reason behind its recovery, they say, is the fact
that certain chemicals, such as those used in aerosol cans, were gradually banned in
the 1980s. The BBC's Roger Harrabin reports.
It was in the 1980s that many of us became aware that small individual actions could
harm the planet itself.
Hairsprays were cited as one of the causes of the hole in the Antarctic ozone layer.
People were told to wear sunscreen to avoid skin cancer as the layer thinned and
more UV light got through.
By 1987 world governments had agreed to ban most of the ozone-eating chemicals.
The World Meteorological Organisation say at last the ozone layer is showing signs
of being expanded, although it will be a while before they know if the hole is actually
healing.
The same organisation warned earlier this week that climate change was heading in
the opposite direction with greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a record level.
Text D
4. From education.com

Questions 21-25 (one mark per question)

Choose the five statements form A-H that are TRUE according to the information given
in the texts above. Write the letters of the TRUE statements on the lines below (in
any order).

21. __ A. Human activities contribute to the Greenhouse effect.

22. __ B. Oil, coal and aerosols cause pollution.
23. __ C. Pollution improves air and water quality.
24. __ D. the Earth Day was founded to promote air and water pollution.
25. __ E. Some chemicals were banned in the 1980s.
F. The hole in the Ozone layer seems to be healing.
G. Human and animal species mortality is a consequence of pollution.
H. In 1987, governments allowed numerous chemicals.
Questions 26-30 (one mark per question)
The summary notes below contain information from the texts on the previous pages.
Find a word or phrase from text A-D to complete the missing information in gaps 26-
30.
Write your answers on the lines below.

Summary notes
Pollution
- External substances are introduced into the 26. __________ stopping
ecosystems from getting rid of them.
- Pollutants come from natural disasters and 27. __________.
- The Greenhouse effect is caused by activities that 28. __________ gases into
the atmosphere.
The Ozone layer
- The Ozone layer is said to be 29. __________ thanks to the banning of some
chemicals.
- Bringing water and air pollution into the 30. __________ make people aware
of the environment.

Task 3 – Reading into writing

Use the information from the four texts you read in Task 2 to write an essay (150-180
words) for your teacher describing the causes of pollution.
You should plan your essay before you start writing. Think about what you want to say
and make some notes to help you in this box.

Planning notes

(no marks are given for these planning notes)

Now write your essay of 150-180 words on the lines below. Try to use your own
words as far as possible – don’t just copy sentences from the reading texts.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Task 4 – Extended writing
Write an article for your college magazine with the title: ‘Helping the ozone layer’.
Write an article (150-180 words) about the things your community can do to reduce
pollution and minimize the Greenhouse effect.

You should plan your article before you start writing. Think about what you want to
say and make some notes to help you in this box:

Planning notes

(no marks are given for these planning notes)

Now write your article of 150-180 words on the lines below.

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
Solutions
16. C
17. B
18. B
19. A
20. D
21, 22, 23, 24, 25: the following statements are true: A, B, E, F, G.
26. environment
27. human activity
28. release
29. healing
30. national spotlight