EARTH PROBLEMS

Complete the WEBQUEST to find out about Earth issues.

Click on the links to visit the Websites.

Write these phrases under the corresponding pictures :

Water Pollution Rain Forest Destruction

Energy Depletion

Air Pollution Overflowing Landfills

Air
Vanishing Species
Polluti
 on A little vocabulary ( + Page 2 ). Match the words on
the left with their definitions on the right :

 Smog a) Compounds produced by the incomplete burning of

gasoline and the evaporation of such things as industrial
solvents and oil paints.

 Ozone Layer b) Precipitation that results from chemicals released into

the air.

 Hydrocarbons c) Originally meaning a combination of smoke and fog.

 Acid rain d) A colorless, odorless, deadly gas created mainly by the

incomplete combustion of fuels.

 Carbon Monoxide e) Atmospheric gases located in the stratosphere (12 to

 (CO) 30 miles above the earth's surface).

Which is the world's most polluted city ? The World’s most

polluted city is New Delhi in India.

Where is smog very thick in the USA ? Smog is very thick in Los
Angeles, California.

What is its composition ?

There are two major types of smog: photochemical and industrial smog.
Photochemical smog is created through a reaction by which air
pollutants are struck by sunlight, and form bad ozone. The air
pollutants that are most responsible for this type of smog are nitrogen
oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Photochemical is
especially a problem in areas with many cars, and the right weather
conditions. Los Angeles, CA is a city that often has to deal with
photochemical smog.

Where does acid rain come from ?

Acid rain comes from acidic gases from factories which are carried by
the wind and dissolve in rainwater

What are the effects of air pollution ? See Page 1 - Page 2

Air pollution can cause many health problems such as cardiovascular

and respiratory diseases, asthma, heart attacks, lung cancer and early
deaths.

Listen to the song and write the words that you understand about
pollution.
Pollution - don’t drink the water - don’t breathe the air- beware -
smog – sewage – mud – crud – detergents – industrial waste –
monoxide – gas mask – gas veil – don’t inhale – garbage- don’t last

What may happen to the world if nothing is done ? Watch the video.

If nothing is done, our air will be more and more damaged, more and
more people will die as a result of air pollution, there will be more and
more respiratory allergies , bronchitis, asthma etc…. We will
experience atmospheric changes, including global warming and ozone
loss. More and more species will disappear as a result of the
destruction of their habitats ; lakes, streams oceans and rain will be
poisoned.

What can YOU do to reduce air pollution ? Choose the most important
actions in your opinion. ( + Page 2 )

To fight air pollution people can carpool; bicycling and riding the bus
can help fight air pollution or simply walking instead of driving a car .
People can learn ways to save the planet; They should spread the word
and tell their friends about the causes of air pollution and ways to
reduce or prevent it from harming us. Tell them ways to save energy
and reduce pollution like waiting to mow the lawn until after 6:oo pm
when ozone levels are lower. Prevention of air pollution makes the
world a better place to live
Energ
y
 A little vocabulary - Page 1 - Page 2
Deple Complete the sentences with the correct form of
tion
the following verbs : burn - find - make - use

Coal is burnt to make electricity.

Electricity is an electric current used or regarded as a source of
power.
Natural gas is a fossil fuel found deep in the earth. Natural gas is often
found with oil.
Oil is a liquid fuel found deep in the earth. Gasoline and some plastics
are made from oil.

How do we use energy? Give 4 examples :

We all use a lot of energy. At home, we use electricity to light our

houses, cook our dinners, wash our clothes, power the TV, DVD and play
station. We use energy to heat water and keep our homes warm. In
school we use energy to keep us warm in winter, to light the classrooms
and to use the computers.

Overflowing
Landfills
 A little vocabulary :

Give examples of trash : paper waste, food waste, domestic waste

are examples of trash. Batteries, pesticides, paper, glass, bulbs etc…

Find other types of trash:

Electronic waste, biodegradable waste, medical waste , radioactive

waste.

What is garbage ?

Garbage is the stuff we don't need anymore, the junk we think is

useless .Garbage is also known as "municipal solid waste."

What is the best thing we can do to eliminate some of our garbage ?

There is no way to get rid of all our garbage. The best solution is to
make less, then reuse, recycle, burn, or landfill -- to manage what's left.

How much do we recycle ?

Percenta
 ge
glass 20%
alumini
+ 50 %
um
paper 38 %
all
5%
plastic

Rain Forest
 Destruction
A little vocabulary - Page 1 : Click on the "Rainforest slideshow" - Page 2
- Page 3

Name the Tropical Rainforest

Layers :

 Forest floor

 Understory layer

Canopy layer

 Emergent layer

They prevent "Global Warming" from happening. = R.A.N and

environmentalists

It means you aren't destroying the forest to make a living. = anti-deforestation

It happens when a living forest is destroyed due to things such as logging, cattle
ranching, or oil drilling = deforestation

What percentage do tropical forests represent in the world ? They cover 6-

7% of the Earth's land surface.

What surface of the world's tropical rainforest is destroyed every minute ?

Thirty acres of trees are cut in the tropical rainforests every minute

What are the consequences of deforestation ? The area covered by

rainforests around the world is shrinking and large numbers of species
are being driven to extinction. Deforestation may lead to the
destruction of the ecosystem. The tribes are in danger because of the
deforestation.

What can we do to help ? Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 (Click on EARTH /

FOREST / RAINFOREST / PALM OIL).
Select 4 things :

 Learn more about tropical rainforests , the plants and animals

including people who live there.
 Investigate the source of the wood to check if it was grown in a
sustainable manner.  Work to protect
the tropical rainforests and their indigenous people.
 Write letters to congressional representatives to express concern
about the destruction of the tropical rainforests.

Find the names of organizations which work to protect the Earth's

rainforests : Page 1 - Page 2
Vanishing
Greenpeace, Rainforest Action network, WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
Species

 A little vocabulary :

VERBS DEFINITIONS TRANSLATION

to vanish to disappear disparaître

to threaten to be a source of danger to, to menacer

menace

to hunt to pursue for food, to search chasser

through a place for prey

to poach
to hunt illegally braconner

Read the paragraphs indicating threats for these animals and tick them

on the table below :

ANIMALS
Gray Americ
Wolf Bald an Sea Polar pengui
Gorilla Panda Whale
Eagle Crocodi Turtle bear ns
THREATS le

Commerc
e

Habitat

Hunting

Poaching

Poisonin
g

Pollution

Water
 A little vocabulary :
Pollution
 Find sources of water pollution : Page 1 - Page 2 :Oil pollution,
nuclear waste, pesticides, household waste, industrial waste, intensive
farming, oil spill etc…

How many people die every day because of water pollution ?

14000 people die everyday as a result of water pollution.