Discussion Work in pairs or small groups. Make lists of: 1.any animals or birds that are endangered or protected in your country 2. any areas of land which are protected 3.any trees or plants which are protected What Is being done to ensure that these things are protected? Reading Read the letter below and answer these questions: @ 1. who do you think the leer is written to? 2. Which of the following is the best summary of the writer's view of the environment? a. We should do everything we can to protect it. b, We really shouldn't worry about it at all. cc. We should be more thoughtful about what we protect. Dear Sir [follow your environmental news section with interest. However, as result of a number of recent stories, I believe that we have bepun to take conservation to0 seriously. ‘You report that almost 1,000 tees have been cut down inthe north of England to create a nature reserve for a tiny snail. Is this sensible? The sail was last seen seven years ago and nobody has seen one since. For all we know, it might already be extinct and 1,000 trees have been cut down for no reason at all “The world’s smallest lizard, measuring 2 em from nose to tail, has just @ been discovered in the Dominican Republic and immediately placed on the list of endangered species. Why? A week ago We didn't even know itexisted. Why should we suddenly care so much about it now? ‘At Worthing, on the south coast of England, work has stopped on a sea wall in order to protect the habitat of a rare flower, which was being disturbed by the building work. How much will the people who live there be disturbed if the sea breaks through the sea wall, damaging property and possibly taking lives? Yes, the environment is important — but more important is human progress, the lives of other species, and a sense of perspective, Yours faithfully ode Wells Read the letter again and answer those quostions: 1. What three conservation issues does the writer mention? 2, Whar has been,done in each case? 5, How does the writer feel about each issue? DP OP OP Pe onDiscussion Discuss these questions In pairs or small groups: 1. How far do you agree with the writer? Give reasons, Can you think of any important environmental or conservation issues in your local area or your country? 3. Deseribe them to a partner and explain the arguments on each side. 4, What is your opinion about what is happening in these cases? Language Look at the underlined expression with know In this sentence: Forall we know, it might already be extinct. It has the meaning of ‘this might be true but we Just don't know." Read these sentences and complate them with expressions from the box: a. You know as well as 1 do that . b, He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. 6 She's such a know-all, d. you never know ... ew how was 1 10 Mow wu. f. Udon't know about you, but . . Conservation? Don't talk to Gerald about conservation. ..... Sey «Lally cant Sce the point of struggling to save species that will probably die out anyway. 3. We ve odo something eo keep people away from these birds’ nests someone will try to steal the eggs. 4,1 didn’t mean to embarrass her, but. . eanawapiea « «she worked for a mul national oil company? important issues with Rachel, 6.1 just refuse 0 eat hamburgers unless I make them myself, I mean, what they put in commercially produced ones, Discussion 1. Work in small groups. Read and discuss each statement below. If everyone agrees with a statement, leave it as it Is. If someone disagrees, change the statement so that everyone in the group agrees with it. Use phrases from the Language activity, if appropriate. 1. Plants and animals have been dying out since the beginning of time. It’s natural. And it's pointless trying to stop i happening, 2. Humankind has always exploited the resources of the planet - animal, mineral and vegetable. It is nature’s problem — not ours. 3. Few species are worth saving: lions, elephants, giant pandas maybe; two-centimetre-long lizards, definitely nor. 4. People shoulda’t get so angry about the use of land, We need houses and factories. There are plenty of green open spaces around the world, If you need to be near one that badly, move! 2. Work in small groups. All the items on the list below are thr ned with extinction. You have the power to save just three. Which three would you save and why? the Sicilian fir tree the giant panda the Sentani rainbowfish the Chinese alligator the Virginia round-leaf birch tree the bowbead whale a type of Sri Lankan ant the red wolf Compare your decision with other groups.