VIRTUAL COURSE

LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Unit Grammar Vocabulary Reading

Environmental issues.
Global planet threats.
Vocabulary and expressions
Passive Voice about environmental threats: English Expressions for Global
Term 3 unit Indirect questions droughts, toxic chemicals, Problems
energy saving resources, water
consumptions, biodegradable,
air pollution etc.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

VOCABULARY
Air pollution: Air is made up of a number of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen and, in smaller

amounts, water vapor, carbon dioxide and argon and other trace gases.

Alternative energy sources: Energy that does not come from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, gas), for

example wind, flowing water, solar energy and biomass.

Atmosphere: The mass of air surrounding the Earth.

Biodiversity The variety of life on this planet and how it interacts within habitats and ecosystems.

Carbon dioxide (CO2): A colorless gas that is naturally produced from animals and people in exhaled

air and the decay of plants. It is removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in plants and by

dissolving in water, especially on the surface of oceans.

Carbon emissions: In the context of climate change, carbon dioxide released when substances,

especially oil, gas, and coal, are burned by vehicles and planes, by factories and by homes.

Climate: The pattern of weather in a particular region over a set period of time, usually 30 years.

Climate change: A change in the climate of a region over time due to natural forces or human activity.

Conservation: Preserving or protecting animals and resources such as minerals, water and plants

through planned action (such as breeding endangered species) or non-action (such as not letting

taps run unnecessarily).

Deforestation: The reduction of trees in a wood or forest due to natural forces or human activity such

as burning or logging.

Ecosystem: A community of organisms that depend on each other and the environment they inhabit.

Emissions: In the context of the atmosphere, gases or particles released into the air that can

contribute to global warming or poor air quality.

Flora and fauna: The plants and animals that are native to a particular area or period of time.

Fossil fuels: Fuels – such as coal, gas, peat and oil – that are formed in the ground over a long time

from dead plants and animals and are used up once they are burned for energy.

Global warming: The gradual increase in temperature of the Earth’s surface caused by human

activities that cause high levels of carbon dioxide and other gases to be released into the air.

Greenhouse effect: The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere caused by increasing levels of gases,

such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. These gases absorb radiation emitted naturally from the

ground, so slowing down the loss of energy from Earth.

Oil spill: The harmful release of oil into the environment, usually through water, which is very difficult

to clean up and often kills birds, fish and other wildlife.

Ozone layer: The thin protective layer of gas 10 to 50km above the Earth that acts as a filter for

ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. High UV levels can lead to skin cancer and cataracts and affect

the growth of plants.

 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Vocabulary: English Expressions for Global Problems:

Read and check words in bold.

One critical issue is preserving and protecting the environment. The burning of fossil fuels (oil,
coal, and natural gas) produces greenhouse gases (gases that heat up the
atmosphere) that deplete the ozone layer and result in global warming and climate
change (changes in the earth’s temperature and weather patterns).

Some scientists believe that we have already done irreparable damage to the planet, and now we
are suffering the consequences of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent natural
disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados. A number of animal species have gone
extinct, and many more are endangered.

To reverse this trend, we must invest in clean energy (energy sources that do not pollute the
environment) with renewable resources (elements like water and air, which can be re-used) and
utilize manufacturing methods that are not harmful to the environment.

There are still many regions of the world where children die of hunger/starvation (die from not
having enough food). Unfortunately, extreme poverty is common in the rural areas of developing
countries, where the population often suffers from food shortages (not enough food) and lack of
access to clean water.

In the cities, homeless people sleep on the streets if there is not enough room in local homeless
shelters. There are also many families on the margins of society (outside the dominant society and
culture) who are living below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet every month.

Although many governments create welfare programs (programs that give money to poor
people) to alleviate poverty, the widening gap between rich and poor suggests that poverty may
never be completely eradicated.

Poverty and underdevelopment contribute to a host of additional problems as well. For example,
many people die of preventable diseases because they have no access the safe and effective
vaccines that exist. A number of large corporations use child labor in the manufacturing of their
products, as poor families may feel they have no other option for survival.

In addition, young women from disadvantaged backgrounds (poor families and situations) are
prime targets for human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Read this debate between two politicians and fill in the gaps with the correct words:

Alleviating // endangered // irreparable // shelters // clean // fossil // line // shortages //

climate // harming // margins // warming // disadvantaged // hunger // renewable // welfare

Jim: If I'm elected, my number one priority will be ___________ poverty. A large portion of our

country's population lives below the poverty ____________, and it's a fact that young people from

_____________ backgrounds are more likely to engage in criminal activity. My opponent, on the

other hand, wants to cut funding for the ____________ program and leave millions of people

without help.

George: I believe it is a mistake to focus on our country alone; we must remember that we are part

of a global community. Opening up more homeless ______________ is not a long-term solution to

help those on the ___________ of society. However, investing in _____________ energy will enable

us to grow our economy without __________ the environment. This will benefit our country and

our world.

Jim: That's a noble goal, but we have more pressing problems. I seriously doubt our citizens who are

dying of _____________ care about protecting ____________ species and preventing global

___________. Plus, it's not scientifically proven that humans can even cause ____________ damage

to the planet.

George: Don't you see that the two issues are related? Due to _________ change, the rain patterns

have changed and our agricultural sector is not as strong as it once was. This results in food

__________. It's only going to get worse unless we end our dependence on __________ fuels and

start using ____________ resources.

Answers:
Jim: If I'm elected, my number one priority will be alleviating poverty. A large portion of our country's population lives below the
poverty line, and it's a fact that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to engage in criminal activity.
My opponent, on the other hand, wants to cut funding for the welfare program and leave millions of people without help.
George: I believe it is a mistake to focus on our country alone; we must remember that we are part of a global community.
Opening up more homeless shelters is not a long-term solution to help those on the margins of society. However, investing in
clean energy will enable us to grow our economy without harming the environment. This will benefit our country and our world.
Jim: That's a noble goal, but we have more pressing problems. I seriously doubt our citizens who are dying of hunger care
about protecting endangered species and preventing global warming. Plus, it's not scientifically proven that humans can even
cause irreparable damage to the planet. George: Don't you see that the two issues are related? Due to climate change, the
rain patterns have changed and our agricultural sector is not as strong as it once was. This results in food shortages. It's only
going to get worse unless we end our dependence on fossil fuels and start using renewable resources.

Check the video of environmental issues your virtual course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0pB1qw8SMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa7ntoCf8yU
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

PASSIVE VOICE

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who
or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however,
who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example
shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have
made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

§ the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
§ the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
§ the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Tense Auxiliary verb + sample Examples

V3 (past participle)

Present am, is, are + made Wine is made from grapes.

simple Many cars are made in
Japan.

Present am, is, are + being + sent The document is being sent
progressive right now.
I am being sent to work in
the London office.

Past simple was, were + invited John was invited to speak at

the conference.
We were invited to Daniel
and Mary’s wedding.

Past was, were + being + The dog was being washed

progressive washed when I got home.
Their cars were being
washed while they were in
the mall shopping.

Future (will) will be + signed The contract will be signed

tomorrow.
The documents will all be
signed by next week.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Tense Auxiliary verb + sample Examples

V3 (past participle)

Future (going am, is, are + going to be + A bridge is going to be built

to) built within the next two years.
New houses are going to be
built in our neighborhood.

Present has, have + been + sold That start-up has been sold
perfect for $5 million.
The rights to his book have
been sold for $250,000.

Past perfect had + been + hired The new manager had been
hired before John left the
company.
All the employees had hired
before the store opened.

Future will + have been + finished The car will have been
perfect loaded by the time he gets
home.
The crates will have been
loaded by then.

Modals: can, could + be + issued A passport can only be

can/could issued at the embassy.
He said the documents
could be issued within the
week.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Tense Auxiliary verb + sample Examples

V3 (past participle)

Modal: have have to, has to, had A babysitter has to be

to to + be + arranged arranged for this evening.
Joan’s travel plans have to
be arranged by December.

Modal: must must + be + stopped Criminals must be stopped

before they commit crimes.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Practice

Complete the questions using the verb in brackets in passive. Then answer the questions.

1. When ______ America ______ (discover)?

2. In what year ______ the Olympic Games ______ (hold) in Barcelona?

3. In what century ______ William Shakespeare ______ (bear)?

4. Where ______ Coca-Cola ______ (invent)?

5. What ______ ______ (consider) the highest mountain in the world?

6. Where ______ rubles1 ______ (use)?

7. In what country ______ Kiev ______ (locate)?

8. In what country ______ Thai ______ (speak) by 92% of the population?

9. How many Harry Potter´s novels have ______ ______ (write)?

10. When ______ Halloween ______ (celebrate)?

11. When ______ St Patrick´s Day ______ (celebrate)?

12. When ______ Thanksgiving Day ______ (celebrate)?

13. When ______ the Eiffel Tower ______ (build)?

14. ______ the Channel Islands ______ (include) in the “United Kingdom”?

15. In what century ______ Australia ______ (settle) by the British?

16. Where ______ most bananas ______ (produce)?

17. In what museum can La Gioconda painting ______ ______ (see)?

18. How many stars and bars ______ ______ (represent) in the flag of the USA?

19. What two ingredients ______ candy floss______ (make) of?

20. What ______ the largest lake in the world ______ (call)?

Answers 1. was discovered. 1492 2. were held.1992 3. was born. 16th 4. was invented. Atlanta, USA.
5. is considered. Everest. 6. are used. Russia, Tajikistan. 7. is located. Ukraine. 8. is spoken. Thailand
9. been written. 7. 10. is celebrated. 31st October. 11. is celebrated. 17th March. 12. is celebrated.
On the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday
in October. 13. was built. 1887-89 14. are included. Yes 15. was settled. 18th 16. are produced. India
17. be seen. Louvre, in Paris. 18. are represented. 13 bars and 50 stars. 19. is made. Sugar and food
coloring. 20. is called. Caspian Sea.
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

INDIRECT QUESTIONS

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask friends, family members, and people
who we know well. You can form direct questions using the QUASM model that we learned last
lesson.
Example of a direct question:
“Where’s the bathroom?”
Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we
don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.
Example of an indirect question:
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”
PHRASES FOR INDIRECT QUESTIONS
§ Could you tell me…
§ Do you know…
§ I was wondering…
§ Do you have any idea…?
DIRECT AND INDIRECT QUESTIONS IN ENGLISH: EXAMPLES
Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?
Indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).
Direct What time does the bank open?
Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?
Indirect questions we don’t use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did. Also, you can see that the verb is
“open” in the direct question, and “opens” in the indirect question.
Direct: Why did you move to Europe?
Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe.
Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect question. In fact, this indirect question isn’t even a
question – it’s more of a statement that invites the other person to give more information.
Direct: How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?
Indirect: Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?
The auxiliary verbs have and has can be used in both the direct and indirect questions – but in the
direct question, “has” comes before the subject (he), and in the indirect question, “has”
comes after the subject.
YES/NO DIRECT QUESTIONS –> “IF” IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS
If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when,
where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.
Direct: Does Tom like Italian food?
Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food?
Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner?
Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner?
 VIRTUAL COURSE
LEVEL 7
Unit 3

Practice

Direct Questions Indirect Questions

Where is MacDougal Street?

Has the game started yet?

Are they coming with us?

Can you help me move on Saturday?

Did you finish the report?