listen this way2Unit 17 For a Gleaner planet
Unit 17 For a Gleaner planet
Part Ⅰ Getting ready
Pollution problems in many countries have gone beyond acceptable limits. The world's forest cover greatly lessens, the soil suffers serious erosion, the quality of the air is unsatisfactory, surface and underground water is contaminated, traffic noise is far too high. All these problems call for stronger control over forest, air, water, soil and noise pollution, and much improved protection of the environment, especially in areas of concentrated population and industrial growth.
A The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
1. rainforest: a hot, wet, evergreen forest in tropical areas where rainfall is heavy and there is no dry season
2. extinction: destroying or being destroyed, dying out, as a species of animals
3. species: sort, biological group having some common characteristics able to breed with each other but not with other groups
4. equator: an imaginary circle around the earth, equally distant at all points from both the North and South Poles: it divides the earth's surface into the Northern and Southern Hemisphere
5. substance: matter of a particular kind or chemical composition
6. air conditioning: a method of supplying a room, building, railway coach etc. with air that is purified and kept at a certain temperature and degree of humidity
7. recycle: treat or process in order to use again
8. additive: substance added to another in small quantities to produce a desired effect
9. fuel: any material, such as coal, oil, gas, wood, etc., burned to supply heat or power
10. release: let go or let loose
B Here is a conversation between a mother and son from which you can learn something about the rain forests. After that some questions will be asked. Supply the missing words in answering them.
1. He is making a poster to save the _____________.
2. They cover _________ of the Earth's land.
3. They are mainly loggers, _________, and ________.
4. _________ of the world's plant and animal species live in rain forests.
5. There is almost no change in _________ or growing ________.
6. About _________ to _________ inches per year.
7. ____________________.
8. He wants to buy _________.
Part Ⅱ The Campaign for Clean Air (CCA)
There are more and more organizations all over the world striving to make the earth a cleaner place for people to live on. Due to their untiring efforts, most cities are cleaner than they were 10 years ago, major strides have been made in the technology to control pollution, and people are becoming more and more aware of the necessity to protect the environment.
A You are going to hear some words and phrases taken from a radio interview. Listen and read the explanation of their meaning. Try to familiarize yourself with these words and phrases.
1. pollutant: something that pollutes, esp. a harmful chemical or waste material sent off into the water or atmosphere
2. sulfur dioxide: SO2, a heavy, colorless gas which may cause difficulty in breathing (二氧化硫)
3. acid: sharp and biting to the taste, sour
4. emission: something that is sent out, given forth or discharged
5. carbon dioxide: CO2, a colorless, odorless gas that cannot be burned, somewhat heavier than air (二氧化碳)
6. carbon monoxide: CO, a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas, produced by the incomplete burning of certain materials; it burns with a pale-blue flame(一氧化碳)
7. dose: amount (of medicine, drug, etc.) to be taken at one time
8. reflex: ability to react quickly and effectively
9. greenhouse effect: the warming of a planet (温室效应)
10. icecap: a mass of ice that spreads slowly out in all directions from a center
B You are going to hear a radio programme in which Peter Whitehead interviews Frances Kelly on the problem of air pollution. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, fill in the gaps in the summaries.
Summaries
In this passage, Mr. Frances Kelly has altogether mentioned three kinds of _______________: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
1. sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide emissions mainly come from ___________ stations. It will lead to acid rain which kills off ___________ and _________ life in lakes and destroys the ____________.
2. carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is mostly produced by ________ vehicles. It may cause ____________ and a ____________ of the reflexes. Moreover, scientists are almost sure that it has an effect on the ____________ of children.
3. carbon dioxide
More and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will bring about the ______________ Effect. With the climate becoming warmer, there will be the ______________ of the polar icecaps and subsequent _____________ of low-lying areas. In order to solve these problems. Mr. Frances Kelly thinks that the government should have far stricter ___________ on these emissions and __________ should also be made to help deal with these problems.
Part Ⅲ Traffic pollution
Nowadays, noise has become an annoying problem, since it is heard almost everywhere in modern cities. Jet aircraft, heavy trucks, and sirens all contribute to loud, unpleasant sounds. Noise control has become a global concern of considerable significance.
A In this section you are going to hear several people discussing the problem of traffic pollution with a government official, Barbara Fielding. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, answer the questions.
Questions
1. Why are there traffic congestion and pollution on the road? Because there are too many ____________ on the road.
2. In the first caller's opinion, what is the most effective solution?
The most effective solution is not to build ___________, but to improve our ________________ instead, such as more buses, more ________, and shared _________.
3. What is the real problem according to the second caller?
The real problem is _________.
4. What does she think of what the government is doing now?
She considers it as ____________.
5. What is the general suggestion she puts forward?
She suggests that the government try their best to make people ____________ their cars.
6. What concrete measures does she mention?
She mentions several measures such as limiting ________ in towns, making the roads _________ instead of _________, and making the city centers just for pedestrians and ________.
B Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the telephone conversation and decide whether the statements after the conversation are True or False. Put a "T" or "F" in the brackets.
1. ( ) 2. ( ) 3. ( ) 4. ( )
5. ( ) 6. ( ) 7. ( ) 8. ( )
Part Ⅳ More about the topic: The Indoor Air Pollution
Although there are automatic air pollution monitoring systems in many cities to guide pollution control efforts, one always fails to realize that many sources of air pollution are inside one's house such as refrigerators, gas cookers, and air conditioners. In fact, the air pollution they bring about is no less insignificant than that outside.
The following passage is about indoor air pollution. Supply the missing words while listening.
More than ___________ scientists, public health officials and other experts from _________ countries met near Washington D.C. earlier this month. They discussed the _________ problem of indoor air pollution. Many countries have spent thousands of ________ of dollars during the past 20 years to make the outside air ________ to breathe. Experts say, however, that air inside buildings is often _________ times more dangerous than the air outside. The air inside is full of carbon monoxide, substances from tobacco _________ and biological materials such as _________, insects and moulds. These harmful substances exist in all kinds of buildings, houses, schools, hospitals and offices. _________ them can lead to lung cancer, breathing disorders, ________, stomach sicknesses or ear and _________ problems. Some of the worst indoor air pollution exists in developing countries where _________ and coal are used for _______. Scientists say breathing these substances may be responsible for almost _________ of the deaths around the world. Experts at the recent conference said _________ of indoor air problems are caused by _______ and _______ systems, but they agreed that the problem of indoor air pollution is a _________ one. So they said the solutions must be local. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency is spending more than __________ dollars over _________ years to establish environmental health centers at several universities. Scientists at the centers will __________ indoor air pollution and work with local officials to improve the air ___________ in local buildings. James Hill is a former president of a professional group of American heating and air-conditioning experts. He says experts have learned how to improve indoor air in the past ___________ years. They also know how to ___________ and take care of buildings so that the air inside will be ___________. Mr. Hill says that knowledge now should lead to ___________. He says the goal is to teach designers, builders and the public how to keep from polluting indoor air. Conference delegates ___________ that health experts, builders and engineers need to work together to ___________ indoor pollution. They called for a better use of current technology to produce ___________, ___________ air inside buildings.
Part Ⅴ Memory test: Old Tires
More and more attention is now being given to reducing pollution, maintaining a natural ecological balance and recycling wastes. Naturally, an important way to achieve this is to expand the use of cleaner fuels. Thus, gas is being more widely used to replace raw coal, cheap and clean solar energy is being studied, and with the development of science and technology, even old tires may become a kind of clean fuel one day.
You are going to hear a passage about how to deal with old tyres. After that some questions will be asked. Find the right answers as quickly as possible according to the notes you have taken while listening.
1. a. In the house.
b. Wherever one likes.
c. In the land field.
d. In the garage.
2. a. 24 000 000
b. 42 000 0000
c. 340000 000
d. 240 000 000
3. a. The tires can catch fire.
b. The tires can carry diseases.
c. The tires can become a home for insects.
d. The tires can trap water.
4. a. They should be buried underground.
b. They should be recycled.
c. They should be repaired.
d. They should be thrown away.
5. a. Because tires have long been used as a fuel.
b. Because people may run out of other fuels.
c. Because burning tires can send out good chemicals into the air.
d. Because in the future, it is possible to make the tires burn cleaner.
Part Ⅵ Reminder of key points in this unit
Verb & Verb Phrase Noun & Noun Phrase Other
Part Ⅰ cover rain forest tropical
be impressed project
work on petition
extinction
logger
species
equator
donation
Part Ⅱ issue air pollutant in the longer term
kill off sulfur dioxide damaging
impose on acid rain polar
emission subsequent
carbon monoxide low-lying
carbon dioxide
dose
reflex
build-up
Greenhouse Effect
icecap
flooding
Part Ⅲ be aware traffic pollution in my opinion
discourage from congestion positive
carry on public transport drastic
collapse pedestrian realistic
Part Ⅳ lead to substance local
be responsible for tobacco current
investigate mould
keep from disorder
call for air-conditioning
Part Ⅴ deal with automobile unwanted
throw away vehicle worldwide
trap waste material open-air
recycle threat
melt particle
rip asphalt
release additive
fuel
chemical
