Unit-2 : Climate Change
Lesson-5 : A Friend of the Earth
Part A: Reading Test
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 2.
Let’s save our planet!
Everyone must play a part in protecting the environment. There are many things you can do on your own every day to help save the planet. Here are some suggestions.
Reduce!
Really, the best thing we can do for the planet is to use its resources properly. Our unplanned activities are mainly responsible for the environmental crisis. Here are some questions you can ask yourself before buying something. “Do I really need this?” or “Is there another product which would do the same thing but is more sustainable?” or ask the question, “Will this last a long time?” Some other questions may be, “Do I know how this item was made, how it will be used and how it will be disposed of?”
Reuse!
What do you think of using your own ceramic cup or mug at your school or local club? It means there are no plastic cups to throw away. You can wash it and reuse it every day. Unfortunately, we are encouraged to buy a new ‘improved’ item even if the one we have can be repaired or reused. When we buy things, we should buy those that are durable; we should use them properly, and have them repaired when necessary. If we practice this, many things will not only last a lifetime, but also be passed on for future use. However, if something is truly unusable for its original purposes, try to be more creative and think of how else it might be used. When you are done with it, think of whether someone else might be able to use it. You can donate some of the things to the poor. You may also sell some of your used items through personal advertisements in a local newspaper or in social media.
Recycle!
Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can make use of it, have it recycled. And if recycling is not possible, it is better to send goods to a landfill or have them burned up. Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area. Clean and sort the materials before putting them out in the bin. Recycling your drink and food cans means there will be less trash in a resource recovery facility or landfill. Moreover, a company can use the old cans to make new ones.
2. Read the passage again. Now, answer the following questions in your own words. 2x5=10
(a) Whom does the author blame for the environmental crisis?
(b) How many questions can you ask yourself before buying the things?
(c) Why is it necessary to save our planet?
(d) Do you think recycling can contribute to the development of our country? How?
(e) ‘Our customer society is mainly responsible for the environmental crisis.’ Explain how they are responsible.
Answer: 2. a. The author blames mainly the user or the consumer society for the environmental crisis.
b. Before buying the things, we can ask ourselves four questions. Those are: whether the materials are needed or not, if there is another product more sustainable, how long this item will last, how this item was made and how it is used and disposed of.
c. Unless the planet is saved, our lives on earth will of course, be under tremendous threat. Without saving the planet, we can hardly expect a peaceful and comfortable life.
d. Yes, I think recycling can contribute to the development of our country because as a poor and developing country, we cannot produce more and more new things. So, when we reuse something, it will definitely help flourish our economic growth.
e. The users of necessary items are shown here as customers. In fact, customers are of varied qualities, of varied backgrounds. They often buy things which are not at all required by them. Moreover, some of them are not conscious of the maintenance of environment. They pollute the environment by misusing their things.
লেখক : সিনিয়র শিক্ষক, ইংরেজি
লেক সার্কাস গার্লস হাই স্কুল, কলাবাগান ঢাকা
কবীর
