Autonomous work 2

Teacher Mauricio Gómez

Grade 10th – 11th
Subject English
Skill Reading comprehension
Topic The coronavirus and the environment
Common thread: Coronavirus Connection with Science, Social Science, Math, and
pandemic Spanish.
Environmental benefits of coronavirus pandemic across the world
The environmental benefits of countries being in lock down across the world have caused many
to rejoice.
From clearer water in Venice to blue skies in Beijing, the world is seeing a positive benefit on
the environment as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
But experts are warning not to call it a silver lining, saying things will no doubt return to normal,
with pollution levels even returning with a vengeance.
They also say reductions in pollution and emissions should be done without ruining economies.
“I don’t think of a silver lining,” Wade McGillis, an associate professor of Earth and
Environmental Engineering at Columbia University, told Time magazine.
“I see it and I think those poor people who are not moving around and sheltered in place, and
their lives being ruined.”
AIR POLLUTION DOWN
Increases in smog in countries that usually experience it have been down because of lockdowns.
Spring smogs usually reach a top value of 10 in the UK but have peaked at three.
New data shows strong reductions in nitrogen dioxide concentrations over several major cities
across Europe, including Paris, Madrid and Rome.
Nitrogen dioxide is a by-product of burning fossil fuels that causes respiratory problems.
Satellite images have mapped air pollution across Europe and China and revealed a significant
drop in nitrogen dioxide concentrations – coinciding with the strict quarantine measures.
China’s capital Beijing is seeing blue skies when it’s known for its lung-choking levels of
pollution, killing an estimated one million people in the country each year.
EMISSIONS DOWN
In China, carbon dioxide emissions decreased by a quarter between a few weeks in February.
But according to Lauri Myllyvirta, author of the Carbon Brief Report and lead analyst at the
Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, by the end of March, coal consumption and
nitrogen dioxide pollution had returned to normal levels
Marcus Ferdinand, of independent Commodity Intelligence Services, predicts greenhouse gas
emissions in Europe will drop 24.4 per cent this year because of lockdowns.
He told Forbes Italian power demand dropped 3 per cent during the first week of quarantine in
March then by 10 per cent the week between March 16-18 compared to the 2015-2019 March
average.
ITALY A DIFFERENT PLACE
Venice canals are clearer because there are no gondolas and boats buzzing about.
People are reporting deserted streets like they’ve never seen them before in the bustling tourist
spots across the country. But reports that swans had returned to canals in Venice were later
shutdown by National Geographic, which said the animals regularly appeared where the photos
were taken in Burano, a small island in the city.
Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology and environmental studies at the College of Wooster
in Ohio, told the publication people wanted to believe in the power of nature to recover.
“People hope that, no matter what we’ve done, nature is powerful enough to rise above it,” she
said.
ACTIVITIES
This second section connects this text to other subjects of learning at school. Write all
the answers in this very document.

B. Activities connected to other school subjects:

1. Science: Chemistry: explain the chemical structure of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen
dioxide, how they are formed and their effects on human health. (12 points)
2. Social Science
a. find out the population, spoken language, country and some landmarks of the
following cities: Beijing, Venice, Paris, Madrid and Rome. (7 points)
b. Describe the following institutions, organizations or documents: Columbia
University, Time magazine, the Carbon Brief, Centre for Research on Energy and
Clean Air, Independent Commodity Intelligence Services, National Geographic,
College of Wooster. (7 points)
3. Spanish: translate into Spanish the second section: AIR POLLUTION DOWN. Don’t use a
translator and make sure that your paragraph is coherent and clear. (12 points)
4. Math: Read and solve the problem: What’s a GWh?
“Italy’s Electricity Demand data was reported at 23,733.000 GWh in Mar 2020. This
records a decrease from the previous number of 25,776.000 GWh for Feb 2020. Italy’s
Electricity Demand data is updated monthly, averaging 26,663.800 GWh from Jan 2000
to Mar 2020, with 243 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 32,068.000
GWh in Jul 2015 and a record low of 22,003.200 GWh in Aug 2000. Italy’s Electricity
Demand data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Terna. The data is
categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.RB006: Electricity Demand.”
https://www.ceicdata.com/en/italy/electricity-demand/electricity-demand
Problems:
a. If Italy’s power/electricity demand in March 2020was 23,733.000 GWh and it
dropped 3% during the first week of March, how many GWh did it drop? (6 points)
b. If the report in Februrary 2020 was of 25,776.000 GWh, what percentage did it drop
if we compare February and March? (6 points)
Self-marking: Question 1: 12 points. Question 2: 14 points. Question 3: 12 points. Question 4 :
12 points.