Unit 8

Reading
Climate Change and Global Warming
Wikipedia defines climate as follows: Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature,
humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other
meteorological elements in a given region over a long period of time. Climate can be contrasted
to weather, which is the present condition of these same elements and their variations over
shorter time periods.
Climate may be inherently variable as evidenced by the irregularity of the seasons from one year
to another. This variability is normal and may remain partially understood. It is related to
changes in ocean currents, volcanic eruptions, solar radiation and other components of the
climate system. In addition, our climate also has its extremes (such as floods, droughts, hail,
tornadoes and hurricanes), which can be devastating. However, in recent decades, a number of
indicators and studies show more and more evidence of climate warming across the globe. A
disturbing phenomenon that challenges human habits and activities which are responsible for
greenhouse gase emissions.
The greenhouse effect is the process by which absorption and emission of infrared radiation by
gases in the atmosphere warm a planet's lower atmosphere and surface. It was proposed by
Joseph Fourier in 1824 and was first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases have a mean warming effect of about 33 C (59 F). But
Human activity since the Industrial Revolution has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere, leading to increased radiative forcing from CO2, methane, tropospheric ozone,
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) and nitrous oxide. The concentrations of CO2 and methane have
increased by 36% and 148% respectively since 1750. These levels are much higher than at any
time during the last 650,000 years, the period for which reliable data has been extracted from ice
cores. Over the last three decades of the 20th century, GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita
and population growth were the main drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions. CO2
emissions are continuing to rise due to the burning of fossil fuels and land-use change.
Consequences of global warming
There are two major effects of global warming: the increase of temperature on the earth by about
3 to 5 C (5.4 to 9 Fahrenheit) by the year 2100 and Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters
(82 feet) by the year 2100. Other consequences are listed below:

Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion of the ocean, in addition to melting of land
ice.
Amounts and patterns of precipitation are changing.

The total annual power of hurricanes has already increased markedly since 1975 because
their average intensity and average duration have increased.

Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the frequency, duration, and
intensity of other extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and
tornadoes.

Higher or lower agricultural yields, further glacial retreat, reduced summer stream flows,
species extinctions.

Diseases like malaria are returning into areas where they have been extinguished earlier.

Comprehension:
1. Climate is by definition variable.
a.

True

b.
False
2. Climate change observed in the last decades is natural.
a.

True

b.

False

3. Global warming is caused by industrialization.

a.

True

b.

False

4. Greenhouse effects have no impacts on our health.

a.

True

b.

False

Language Focus
Relative Pronoun
That/ Which
Example: This is the book. I bought it at book store.
This is the book that I bought at book store.
This is the book which I bought at book store.
Who
Example: The men are angry. The men are in this room
The men who are in this room are angry.
Whom
Example: The boy is nice. I like the boy.
The boy whom I like is nice

 Whose
Example: My grandmother lives in Paris. Her house is big.
My grandmother whose house is big lives in Paris.

Exercise
1. All the money was accepted. The money has been released.
2. The papers are on table. The papers belong to Patricia.
3. The man brought to police station. The man confessed to the crime.
4. The doctor is with the patient. The patients leg was broken in an accident.
5. The professor is not here. I talked to the professor yesterday.
6. The man is talking to the lawyer. The man is my uncle.
7. Phillip bought a camera. The camera has three lenses.
8. Jane is the woman. Jane is going to go to Spain next month.
9. John grades are the higher in school. John has received scholarship.
10. Daniel Radclife is talented actor. People know him as Harry Potter.

Unit 9
Reading
Pollution and its Negative Effects
Pollution is the degradation of natural environment by external substances introduced directly or
indirectly. Human health, ecosystem quality and aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity may be
affected and altered permanently by pollution.
Pollution occurs when ecosystems can not get rid of substances introduced into the environment.
The critical threshold of its ability to naturally eliminate substances is compromized and the
balance of the ecosystem is broken.
The sources of pollution 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 biodiversty, increased
mortality of the human and animal species, destruction of natural
habitat, damage caused to the quality of soil, water and air ...
Preventing pollution and protecting the environment necessitate
the application of the principles of sustainable development. we have to consider to satisfy the
needs of today without compromizing 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 in order to protect the environment and public health. Any environmental damage must
be punishable by law, and polluters should pay compensation for the damage caused to the
environment.
Comprehension
1. The damage caused by pollution might be irreversible:
a.

True

b.

False

2. The ecosystem
a.

can always cope with pollutants

b.

may not always be able to cope with pollution.

3. Pollution
a.

is always caused by humans.

b.

may sometimes be caused by natural disasters.

4. An ideal solution to prevent pollution would be to

a.

refrain the development of some counries.

b.

continue develpmental projects.

c.
take into consideration the future generations need to live in a healthy
environment.

Reading Skill
Making Inferences

To infer as we read is to go beyond literal interpretation and to open a world

of meaning deeply connected to our lives.
~ Ellin Keene
Author of Mosaic of Thought

In reading comprehension, making inferences is one reading skill which can be used by readers
to help them understanding the text. Most of the time readers need to create an educated guess by
relating the things in the text and the things in the mind. So, basically, making inferences is
drawing conclusion based on observation.
For example:
When we read this text

Jake stood on the riverbank. He cast his fishing pole into the deep water. He had been trying to
catch a fish for many hours. Alex and Zach laughed as they catched. Jake throw the line into the
water one more time.
Can we try to infer what kind of person Jake is?
Remember that in making inference, readers should draw conclusions based on observations or
in other words, making an educated guess.
What are the three strategies you can use to make inferences?
a. Story Clues
b. Personal Experience Text to Self
c. Prior Knowledge Text to Text
Now, what kind of person is Jake?
a. Clumsy

b. Lazy

c. Patient

d. Emotional

Of all those four options, the most suitable answer will be patient. We can make that inference
by analyzing the clues on the text.
Jake stood on the riverbank. He cast his fishing pole into the deep water. He had been trying to
catch a fish for many hours. Alex and Zach laughed as they catched. Jake throw the line into the
water one more time.
Exercise 2
Make inferences from these situations.
1. Jake stood on the riverbank. He cast his fishing pole into the deep water. He had been
trying to catch a fish for many hours. Alex and Zach laughed as they watched Jake throw
the line into the water one more time.
How do you think Alex and Zach feel about Jakes effort to catch the fish?
2. The bus driver pulled out of the station. Jims heart beat fast. He had never traveled
alone. He waved good-bye to his grandparents. The bus will be in Tucson in two hours,
Jim told himself. He checked his watch. Jim pictured his father waiting for the bus in
Tucson. Two hours will be over in no time, Jim said.
How does Jim Feel? Why does he feel it?
3. Annies teeth chattered. Her knees shook. Her voice trembled as she said, I cant stay
out here! Im going inside.

What does Annie feel? Where is she?

Unit 10
Reading
Sea Otter Census Shows Big Population Jump

Scientists counted more wild sea otters than usual along the California coast this year. The
number they saw in Monterey Bay amazed many people. "The spring count this year is the
highest we've ever had since 1983," said a man from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He
thought that was good news. In the 1700s and 1800s, sea otters were almost hunted to extinction
because
their
thick
fur
was
so
popular.
People saw 2,505 sea otters this year. Thats 17% higher than last year, or about 425 more. Some
scientists think the count was misleading. Maybe otters were just easier to spot this year. Dr. Jim
Estes, one of the leaders of the count, said he doesnt believe there are really more otters now. He
thinks the actual number is probably staying about the same. Maybe a hard and early winter plus
a larger food supply attracted more otters to Monterey Bay. They could be more easily seen and
counted there.
The high count may also explain a mystery. This spring, an unusually large number of dead and
dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. Nobody knew why. But Dr. Estes says that if

more live otters are in the area, the number of dead would also go up. Scientists say they will be
watching the otter counts over the next few years. If the count keeps going up, they'll know the
downward trend that began in the mid-1990s is reversing. But the 2,505 otters are still only a
small fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 otters scientists believe lived along the California coast
before white men came.
Comprehension:
1. Why did the sea otters almost extinct in 1700s and 1800s?
2. How many sea otter did people see?
3. Why did the sea otters along the California coast?
4. Where did people see the sea otters?
5. How man sea otters those scientists believe live in California before white men came?

Language Focus
Imperative
In advertisement, imperative form is usually used. The space limit requires the ad to be attractive
and straight-forward at the same time.
Some examples of imperative form can be seen at the previous advertisement.
Win a $100 gift card!
Be the first to know!
Score a shopping spree & skintimate prize pack!
Click for details!
Now using imperative forms, create your own fashion advertisement.

Vocabulary
Find the meaning of each fashion idioms (the underlined words) by understanding the context.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Sally was all gussied up when he arrived for their date.

It's a library party, so dress down. Wear something casual.
I saw her at the concert last night and she was all decked out in a beautiful silk dress.
Recently in some areas the mini-skirt has come into fashion again.
She was dressed to kill when I saw her at the sales convention.
Her new dress fit like a glove so she was very happy.
During his childhood growing up on a farm he wore many hand-me-down clothes.
Platforms are so pass. Last time I saw people wearing them was during the 60s.

become fashionable
dressed in fancy clothes
suits perfectly
wear one`s finest clothes

groomed and dressed for a party

old fashioned dress informally
given away after another person doesn`t need it

Unit 11
Reading
Living Fossil Fish
A coelacanth (pronounced "see-la-kanth") is a fish whose
ancestors lived 400 million years ago. For a long time, people
thought that there were no coelacanths still living in the Earth's
oceans.
In 1938, a fishing boat brought in a coelacanth. It had been
caught
near the Comoros Islands. These islands are near the east coast of Africa. South African biologist
Marjorie Courtney Latimer noticed the fish on the boat's deck. The discovery of this fish was on
the front pages of newspapers around the world.
This fish is called a 'living fossil". Biologists had only seen it before in fossil form. This fossil
was from the time when dinosaurs were alive on Earth. Now, 80 million years later, here was a
live one! The coelacanth was not extinct after all! The coelacanth is about 5 feet long and weighs
150 pounds. It is dark blue with silver spots on its side. It has an unusual tail.
A few coelacanths have been caught in the ocean near East Africa since 1938. The fish live in
deep caves along the sides of underwater volcanoes. In 1986 a team of German biologists filmed
a coelacanth swimming in its habitat. The biologists used a submersible to film the fish 590 feet
deep in the ocean.
Recently two coelacanths have been found in another place on Earth. This new place, Indonesia,
is 7,000 miles from East Africa. In 1997, a biologist named Mark Erdmann was in Indonesia on
his honeymoon. He and his wife saw a strange-looking fish on a handcart in a fishmarket. Mark
Erdmann recognized it and took a photo of it. The fish was sold as food. Another coelacanth was
found in nearby waters in 1998. It was kept alive for a short while, but later died.
So, it seems that there may be "living fossil fish" in a few places. They are not found very often.
The coelacanth is a rare animal. Fossils of the coelacanth are on display in some science
museums. There are no living coelacanths on display in an aquarium.
Exercise!

1. What is coelacanth?
2. Where and when did the fishing boat bring in coelacanth?
3. Describe the coelacanth?
4. When did coelacanths find in Indonesia?
5. Where did coelacanths live?

Language Focus
Asking for clarification and giving opinion
Asking for Clarification

Giving Opinion

What do you think about ?

I think

Is it true that ?

In my opinion

I heard about , what do you say about that?

I can only say that

Speaking
Practice the dialogue
Tom: What do you think about rap, Lily?
Lily: Well, I dont like it. Do you?
Tom: Sure, I do. Im a big fan of Eminem
Lily: I think I know him. Does he play piano?
Tom: Piano?? Of course not, hes a singer.
Lily: Oh, I guess I dont really know about rap.
Tom: I think you should listen to rap. Its good.
Lily: I like pop better than rap.
Tom: Whos your favorite singer?
Lily: Mariah Carey. I can only say that she has great voice.
Tom: Oh, I dont know her. I dont like pop very much.
Now have a role play on asking clarification and giving opinion about certain latest rumors in
society today.

Unit 12
Reading
MARINE SCIENTISTS GET THE MAMMALS PICTURE

Scientists are learning how mammals live in the deep ocean. A seal hunts for fish below the
Antarctic ice. A tiny camera on the seal's head takes pictures of the kill. Scientists are using video
cameras and other instruments to study sea mammals. They are learning how the mammals dive
to get deep in the ocean, hunt for their food, and can avoid being hunted and killed. These
animals
must
breathe.
One of these scientists is Terrie Williams. She does her research at the University of California
Santa Cruz. She says as the sea mammals dive, their lungs press together. This means the
mammal does not float as well, and they fall like a rock.
Terrie Williams studied a National Geographic video of a 100-ton blue whale's deep ocean
plunge. At first the video didn't show much. She thought because the blue whale is such a big
animal, maybe it moves at a different speed. So they sped up the film. They could see the animal
moving. They could tell when he was swimming and when he was gliding.
When they used a backward looking camera carried by a bottle nosed dolphin, it showed its
powerful kick at the first part of its dive. One of the hardest parts of the project was to get the
instruments to stick to the back of a dolphin. They had to develop a special dorsal pack. Terrie
Williams tells how it is done. Dolphin skin replaces itself so fast that nothing will stick to it.

They made some different size suction cups. The small suction cups are for dolphins, and really
large suction cups are for whales. Dolphins and other mammals may not be able to tell humans
what their lives are like under the sea. With cameras, scientists are beginning to get the picture.
Comprehension!
1. What did the scientist used to study the sea mammals?
2. What are the scientists learning from mammals?
3. Why did mammals fall like rock?
4. What did the scientist do to get the instrument to stick the back of the dolphin?
5. What is the synonym of carried (par.3)?
Writing
Summarizing
A summary is a condensed version of a passage. Similar to paraphrasing, summarizing involves
using your own words and writing style to express another author's ideas. Unlike the paraphrase,
which presents important details, the summary presents only the most important ideas of the
passage.
When summarizing, follow the guidelines listed below:
- Include only the main points of the original passage
- Do not worry about following the original order of ideas.
- Keep the length down to no more than half the length of the original.
For example:
Height connotes status in many parts of the world. Executive offices are usually on the
top floors; the underlings work below. Even being tall can help a person succeed. Studies have
shown that employers are more willing to hire men over 6 feet tall than shorter men with the
same credentials. Studies of real-world executives and graduates have shown that taller men
make more money. In one study, every extra inch of height brought in an extra $1,300 a year. But
being too big can be a disadvantage. A tall, brawny football player complained that people found
him intimidating off the field and assumed he "had the brains of a Twinkie."
A summary cannot be too brief and too long. It has to leave unimportant details and emphasize
on the main points.
So the best summary of the previous passage is
Though height may connote slowness to some people, in the business world, it is almost
universally associated with success. For example, taller men are more likely to be hired and to
have greater salaries. Further, those in top positions within a company are more likely to work on
the top floors of office buildings
Now try to summarize this paragraph

Speaking
Have you ever had to do a speech in front of a large group of people? First, you have to walk
up there to the front of the room. Everyone has his eye on you. You hope that you dont look
scruffy or sloppy. Then, you try to look relaxed, but unless you are gifted or really clever at
speaking, you will probably look tense. You may even start to blush -- or worse, to perspire.
After that, you have to breathe and speak without sounding too foolish. You try to speak
normally, and you hope that your body or your hands do not shake. Most people try to get
finished as soon as they can, or at least before the audience yawns. When you finish, you sit
down as fast as you can.