Test 2 “ENVIRONMENT”

Speaking (25 points):

You are taking part in an English debate club discussion on the environmental problems.
You should give a talk in which you present your opinion on the issue. Study the provided
materials – text A and text B (their format, content, arguments) in order to plan your talk.
1) Deliver the talk in which you:
• formulate the issue raised in the materials;
• compare the information provided in the materials;
• state your opinion on the issue;
• support your opinion by at least two arguments giving reasons and examples;
• come to a conclusion.
2) Answer the teacher’s questions (3) and justify your answer.
 You have up to 5 minutes to plan your talk.
 Speaking time: 3–5 minutes.

Text A: LIVING IN A WORLD WITHOUT WASTE

People buy, consume and then discard, but can you imagine a world where the concept of waste did not
exist? Second-hand furniture, repair cafes and clothing swaps are booming — and not just among those
who cannot afford brand-new consumer goods. In reaction to irresponsible consumption many people are
looking for alternatives to constantly replacing outdated product models with newer versions. It is easy to
see why. The more we consume, the more energy we burn, the more garbage we produce and the bigger
our carbon footprint. Products should be part of a closed cycle. Nature itself is the model — where
everything that dies is broken down into nutrients that feed new life.

Text B: PLASTIC POLLUTION

Plastic is lightweight, flexible, moisture resistant and relatively inexpensive. Packaging based on synthetic
polymers has allowed supermarkets to offer a wider range of fresh produce that stays fresh longer.
Computers, toothbrushes and synthetic clothing contain plastic. Modern medicine has also greatly
benefited from the disposable plastic syringe. Unfortunately our dependence on plastic is problematic.
Microplastic has been found in Antarctica and the Arctic, not to mention also in tap water worldwide. A
study from 2016 has warned that unless the world takes drastic action to recycle, there will be more plastic
than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.

___________________________or____________________________

Text A: EARTH DAY

There are many projects and activities that you can do to celebrate Earth Day: clean up a roadside or park,
plant trees or flowers, make bird feeders or make posters. Some people feel that one day is not enough to
encourage society to make the changes needed. They feel that celebrating Earth Day causes people to feel
that by focusing only on one day all other days of the year are ignored. Still they hope that the Earth Day
activities can inspire people to adopt eco-friendly habits and implement them throughout the year or even
to make permanent changes in their life. It will take more than one day of green activities to make a
significant difference to environmental issues.

Text B: SIMPLE STEPS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

The human population in general tends to believe that by living green and eco-friendly, one family or
person cannot help the environment. This is simply not true. Not everyone can afford to switch to solar
power or buy a new hybrid vehicle, but affordable green living is a matter of implementing new habits into
your old lifestyle. While it is undeniable that disposable plastic bags are a relatively small problem in the
overall scheme of things, reducing their use is something we can all do. Such steps may seem too simple to
make an impact, but when they are used by a large number of people these changes can make a big
difference.

Questions:

1. Which environmental problems are you concerned about? Why?

2. Which natural disasters influence our life most?
3. How can people be encouraged to recycle more?
4. Which is more important, people’s standard of living or the environment? Why?
5. Is it important to care for the environment? Why/why not?
6. What do you think ordinary people can do to save energy?
7. What are some local environmental problems you have noticed?
8. What is your opinion about climate change?
9. How important is it to save endangered species?
10. What can each of us do to improve the environment?
11. Which environmental issues are people in Latvia aware of?
12. Who should be responsible for protecting the environment? Why?
13. What “green” measures have been taken in our school to reduce waste and environmental damage?
14. What endangered species can you name?
15. What daily routines can make up an eco-friendly lifestyle?
16. Can anything be done to encourage people to use less plastic? Please explain.
17. How can we make our homes more environmentally friendly?
18. What can be done to reduce environmental pollution?
19. Do you do anything to keep your local area clean? If yes, what? If not, why not?
20. Should plastic bags be banned? Why/why not?