The Reading / Listening - Level 6

Australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to expand a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the go-ahead to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be up in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous to put corporate profits ahead of such an important marine environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to limit the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its delicate ecosystems by bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more body blow for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision marked, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/31/world/asia/great-barrier-reef-dump-approved/
  • http://www.smh.com.au/national/grief-for-great-barrier-reef-say-environmentalists-20140131-31sjj.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. THE GREAT BARRIER REEF: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the Great Barrier Reef. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

approved / plan / project / Great Barrier Reef / environmentalists / up in arms / profits / system / protection / fishing / tourism / delicate / marine life / decision / sad day

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?: What would these people say about the plan to pour 3 million cubic meters of mud into the Great Barrier Reef? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What they'd say

Do you agree?

The coal mine CEO

 

 

A marine biologist

 

 

A scuba-diving tourist

 

 

Greenpeace

 

 

A reef tour operator

 

 

Australia's leader

 

 

4. PROFITS?: Students A strongly believe profits are more important than the environment; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. GREAT BARRIER REEF JOBS: Rank these and share with your partner. Put the most important jobs at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • fisherman

  • marine biologist

  • Greenpeace activist

  • scuba-diving teacher

  • environmental scientist

  • coal mine CEO

  • underwater photographer

  • reef security

6. MUD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "mud". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Australia's government wants to stop a mine putting mud in the reef.

T / F

b.

Australia's Environment Minister approved the dumping plan.

T / F

c.

Environmentalists are worried it will cost an arm and a leg.

T / F

d.

Around 3 million cubic metres of sludge will be poured into the reef.

T / F

e.

The reef covers an area of approximately 2,600 square kilometres.

T / F

f.

The sun is already bleaching and killing coral.

T / F

g.

The reef generates about $3 million a year through tourism.

T / F

h.

Greenpeace said the decision was a body blow for the reef.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

approved

a.

green light

2.

expand

b.

fragile

3.

go-ahead

c.

spans

4.

up in arms

d.

develop

5.

outrageous

e.

OK'd

6.

stretches

f.

endangers

7.

receives

g.

shocking

8.

delicate

h.

represented

9.

threatens

i.

angry

10.

marked

j.

gets

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

approved

a.

be up in arms

2.

dump massive

b.

344,400 square km

3.

The decision to give

c.

amounts of sludge

4.

It has caused environmentalists to

d.

a sad day for the reef

5.

3 million cubic

e.

a plan

6.

approximately

f.

delicate ecosystems

7.

limit the impact

g.

meters of mud

8.

damaging its

h.

blow for the Reef

9.

one more body

i.

of fishing and tourism

10.

the decision marked

j.

the go-ahead

GAP FILL

Australia's government has (1) ____________ a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to (2) ____________ a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the (3) ____________ to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be up in (4) ____________ about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is (5) ____________ to put corporate profits ahead of such an important (6) ____________ environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be (7) ____________ into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any (8) ____________.

 

 

coral
outrageous
go-ahead
approved
marine
expand
poured
arms

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef (9) ____________. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of (10) ____________ 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to (11) ____________ the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its (12) ____________ ecosystems by bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in (13) ____________ revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more (14) ____________ blow for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage (15) ____________ and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision (16) ____________, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

 

status
approximately
tourism
system
limit
marked
delicate
body

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

Australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive ______

 

a.  amount of sludge
b.  amounts of sludge
c.  a mounts of sludge
d.  a mount of sludge

2)

The mud will come from a project to expand ______

 

a.  a coal port
b.  a coal part
c.  a coal pert
d.  a coal post

3)

It has caused environmentalists to ______

 

a.  be up in alms
b.  be up in arms
c.  be up in aims
d.  be up in arm

4)

it is outrageous to put corporate profits ahead of such an important ______

 

a.  mariner environment
b.  mariners environment
c.  marring environment
d.  marine environment

5)

Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top ______

 

a.  of any coral
b.  of any corral
c.  of any quarrels
d.  of any quarrel

6)

It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of approximately ______

 

a.  344,400 squared km
b.  344,400 squares km
c.  344,400 squarely km
d.  344,400 square km

7)

limit the impact of ______

 

a.  fishing and tourist
b.  fish in and tourism
c.  fishing and tourism
d.  fish and tourists

8)

Climate change is already damaging its ______

 

a.  deli cat ecosystems
b.  delicacy ecosystems
c.  dedicate ecosystems
d.  delicate ecosystems

9)

The reef creates $3 billion a year in ______

 

a.  tourism revenues
b.  tourist revenue
c.  tourism revenue
d.  tourist revenues

10)

The World Wildlife Fund said the decision ______

 

a.  harked a sad day
b.  marked a sad day
c.  barked a sad day
d.  parked a sad day

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

Australia's government has approved a plan to (1) ___________________ of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to (2) ___________________ at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to (3) ___________________ to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be (4) ___________________ the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They (5) ___________________ put corporate profits ahead of such an important marine environment. About 3 million (6) ___________________ will be poured into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an (7) ___________________ 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to (8) ___________________ fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its (9) ___________________ by bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is (10) ___________________ for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its (11) ___________________ and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision marked, "a sad day for the reef and (12) ___________________ about its future".

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What is being expanded?

2.

Who gave the green light for the project?

3.

What was the reaction of environmentalists?

4.

What do environmentalists think is being put before the environment?

5.

How much sludge will end up in the Great Barrier Reef?

6.

How big is the Great Barrier Reef?

7.

What is climate change doing to the coral?

8.

How much money does the reef generate in tourism?

9.

Who said the plan to dump the sludge was a "body blow" for the reef?

10.

What kind of day did the World Wildlife Fund say it was?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What is being expanded?

6.

How big is the Great Barrier Reef?

 

a) the reef
b) environmental protection plans
c) a coal port
d) coral

 

a) 344,400 km3
b) 344,400 km2
c) 344,400 cubic kilometres
d) 344,400 circular kilometres

2.

Who gave the green light for the project?

7.

What is climate change doing to the coral?

 

a) Australia's Environment Minister
b) Greenpeace
c) the local fishing industry
d) a scuba-diving operator

 

a) flattening it
b) making it bigger
c) diversifying it
d) bleaching it

3.

What was the reaction of environmentalists?

8.

How much money does the reef generate in tourism?

 

a) they were out of their heads
b) they were up in arms
c) they were up to their neck
d) they were all fingers and toes

 

a) $30,000 a week
b) $3 billion a year
c) $300,000,000 a year
d) $3 million a day

4.

What do environmentalists think is being put before the environment?

9.

Who said the plan to dump the sludge was a "body blow" for the reef?

 

a) the environment
b) fish
c) decisions
d) profits

 

a) Friends of Nemo
b) Greenpeace
c) a tour operator
d) The World Wildlife Fund

5.

How much sludge will end up in the Great Barrier Reef?

10.

What kind of day did the World Wildlife Fund say it was?

 

a) 300,000 sq metres
b) 30,000,000 cubic metres
c) About 3 million m3
d) 344,400 square kilometres

 

a) a sad one
b) a windy one
c) a calamitous one
d) one to visit the reef

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Marine biologist

You think a marine biologist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): a Greenpeace activist, an underwater photographer or a scuba-diving teacher.

Role  B – Greenpeace activist

You think a Greenpeace activist is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): a marine biologist, an underwater photographer or a scuba-diving teacher.

Role  C – Underwater photographer

You think an underwater photographer is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): a Greenpeace activist, a marine biologist or a scuba-diving teacher.

Role  D – Scuba-diving teacher

You think a scuba-diving teacher is the best job. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them things that are wrong with their jobs. Also, tell the others which is the least attractive of these (and why): a Greenpeace activist, an underwater photographer or a marine biologist.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'barrier' and 'reef'.

barrier

 

reef

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • plan
  • near
  • arms
  • ahead
  • waters
  • top
  • area
  • special
  • change
  • year
  • life
  • future

THE OCEAN SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the ocean in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

THE OCEAN DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'reef'?

c)

What do you think of the plan?

d)

Are you surprised Australia's government OK'd it?

e)

What damage do you think this sludge might cause?

f)

When was the last time you were up in arms about something?

g)

Are environmentalists right to be up in arms about this?

h)

Do you think profits are being put ahead of the environment?

i)

Do you believe the authorities who say sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral?

j)

Why dump in the Great Barrier Reef?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

What do you know about the Great Barrier Reef?

c)

Why is it important to protect the Great Barrier Reef?

d)

What will the rest of the world think about Australia over this decision?

e)

Should all fishing and tourism be banned on the Great Barrier Reef?

f)

What do you know about the Great Barrier Reef?

g)

How likely is it that the dumpers know what they are doing?

h)

What message would you like to give Australia's Environment Minister?

i)

What do you think the future holds for the Great Barrier Reef?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Australia's Environment Minister?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

Australia's government has (1) ____ a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to (2) ____ a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the (3) ____ to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be up in (4) ____ about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous to put corporate profits (5) ____ of such an important marine environment. About 3 million (6) ____ meters of mud will be poured into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It (7) ____ for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of (8) ____ 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to limit the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its (9) ____ ecosystems by bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more (10) ____ blow for the Reef which further threatens (11) ____ life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision (12) ____, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

approval

(b)

approving

(c)

approved

(d)

approves

2.

(a)

expand

(b)

expend

(c)

expunge

(d)

expound

3.

(a)

go-ahead

(b)

get-go

(c)

go-go

(d)

go-between

4.

(a)

arms

(b)

the clouds

(c)

the air

(d)

smoke

5.

(a)

front

(b)

ahead

(c)

before

(d)

forward

6.

(a)

diced

(b)

squared

(c)

circular

(d)

cubic

7.

(a)

elongates

(b)

lengthens

(c)

stretches

(d)

broadens

8.

(a)

approximated

(b)

approximates

(c)

approximate

(d)

approximately

9.

(a)

delicate

(b)

delicacy

(c)

dedicate

(d)

dedicated

10.

(a)

body

(b)

head

(c)

foot

(d)

back

11.

(a)

mariner

(b)

marine

(c)

marring

(d)

marinade

12.

(a)

attested

(b)

graded

(c)

marked

(d)

scarred

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

pardoepva plan

2.

aeimssv amounts

3.

give the hd-oaeag

4.

an important ienmar environment

5.

About 3 million bciuc meters

6.

seArouthtii say the sludge will not be dumped

Paragraph 2

7.

an area of yeatrapmixplo 344,400 square kilometres

8.

special oitnteocrp

9.

eetdliac ecosystems

10.

$3 billion a year in tourism eereunv

11.

its World tgaerHie status

12.

tourism and fishing istreuidns

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

profits ahead of such an important marine environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be

1  )

Australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will

(    )

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an

(    )

ahead to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in

(    )

marked, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

(    )

bleaching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the

(    )

come from a project to expand a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the go-

(    )

area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to

(    )

December. It has caused environmentalists to be up in arms about the possible

(    )

dumping, "is one more body blow for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage

(    )

damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous to put corporate

(    )

status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision

(    )

poured into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

(    )

limit the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its delicate ecosystems by

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

plan     massive     sludge    a    dump    of    Approved    to    amounts.    

2.

a   project   come   The   coal   to   from   mud   port   expand   a   will.    

3.

to    decision    The    dumping   the    to    ahead   -    go    the     give.    

4.

arms     has     to     in     It     environmentalists     up     caused     be.    

5.

meters     cubic     million     3     About     mud     of.    

6.

Covering     an     area     of    approximately    344,400    square    km.     

7.

change    delicate   is   ecosystems   already   damaging   Climate    its.    

8.

revenue    tourism    in    year    a    billion    $3    creates    reef    The.    

9.

The     the     body     is     dumping     Reef    blow    one    for    more.    

10.

The     reef     the     for     day     sad     a     marked     decision.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

Australia's government has approved / approval a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to expend / expand a coal port at Abbot Point, in / on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the go-ahead / get-go to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be an arm and a leg / up in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outlandish / outrageous to put corporate profits ahead / front of such an important marine / maritime environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured into the reef's watery / waters. Authorities / Authorises say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef systematic / system. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of approximated / approximately 344,400 square / circular kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to delimit / limit the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its delicacy / delicate ecosystems by bleaching / belching and killing the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism / tourists revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more body brow / blow for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage statues / status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision graded / marked, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

__str_l__'s g_v_rnm_nt h_s _ppr_v_d _ pl_n t_ d_mp m_ss_v_ _m__nts _f sl_dg_ _n th_ Gr__t B_rr__r R__f. Th_ m_d w_ll c_m_ fr_m _ pr_j_ct t_ _xp_nd _ c__l p_rt _t _bb_t P__nt, _n th_ c__st n__r th_ r__f. Th_ d_c_s__n t_ g_v_ th_ g_-_h__d t_ th_ d_mp_ng _f th_ sl_dg_ w_s m_d_ by __str_l__'s _nv_r_nm_nt M_n_st_r _n D_c_mb_r. _t h_s c__s_d _nv_r_nm_nt_l_sts t_ b_ _p _n _rms _b__t th_ p_ss_bl_ d_m_g_ t_ th_ w_rld's l_rg_st _nd m_st f_m__s c_r_l r__f. Th_y s_y _t _s __tr_g___s t_ p_t c_rp_r_t_ pr_f_ts _h__d _f s_ch _n _mp_rt_nt m_r_n_ _nv_r_nm_nt. _b__t 3 m_ll__n c_b_c m_t_rs _f m_d w_ll b_ p__r_d _nt_ th_ r__f's w_t_rs. __th_r_t__s s_y th_ sl_dg_ w_ll n_t b_ d_mp_d _n t_p _f _ny c_r_l.

Th_ B_rr__r R__f _s th_ w_rld's l_rg_st c_r_l r__f syst_m. _t str_tch_s f_r _v_r 2,600 k_l_m_tr_s, c_v_r_ng _n _r__ _f _ppr_x_m_t_ly 344,400 sq__r_ k_l_m_tr_s. _t r_c__v_s sp_c__l pr_t_ct__n fr_m __str_l__'s g_v_rnm_nt t_ l_m_t th_ _mp_ct _f f_sh_ng _nd t__r_sm. Cl_m_t_ ch_ng_ _s _lr__dy d_m_g_ng _ts d_l_c_t_ _c_syst_ms by bl__ch_ng _nd k_ll_ng th_ c_r_l. Th_ r__f cr__t_s $3 b_ll__n _ y__r _n t__r_sm r_v_n__. Gr__np__c_ w_rn_d th_t th_ d_mp_ng, "_s _n_ m_r_ b_dy bl_w f_r th_ R__f wh_ch f_rth_r thr__t_ns m_r_n_ l_f_, _ts W_rld H_r_t_g_ st_t_s _nd __str_l__'s t__r_sm _nd f_sh_ng _nd_str__s". Th_ W_rld W_ldl_f_ F_nd s__d th_ d_c_s__n m_rk_d, "_ s_d d_y f_r th_ r__f _nd _ny_n_ wh_ c_r_s _b__t _ts f_t_r_".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the great barrier reef the mud will come from a project to expand a coal port at abbot point on the coast near the reef the decision to give the go-ahead to the dumping of the sludge was made by australia's environment minister in december it has caused environmentalists to be up in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef they say it is outrageous to put corporate profits ahead of such an important marine environment about 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured into the reef's waters authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral

the barrier reef is the world's largest coral reef system it stretches for over 2600 kilometres covering an area of approximately 344400 square kilometres it receives special protection from australia's government to limit the impact of fishing and tourism climate change is already damaging its delicate ecosystems by bleaching and killing the coral the reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue greenpeace warned that the dumping "is one more body blow for the reef which further threatens marine life its world heritage status and australia's tourism and fishing industries" the world wildlife fund said the decision marked "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Australia'sgovernmenthasapprovedaplantodumpmassiveamount
sofsludgeintheGreatBarrierReef.Themudwillcomefromaprojectto
expandacoalportatAbbotPoint,onthecoastnearthereef.Thedecisio
ntogivethego-aheadtothedumpingofthesludgewasmadebyAustra
lia'sEnvironmentMinisterinDecember.Ithascausedenvironmentali
ststobeupinarmsaboutthepossibledamagetotheworld'slargestand
mostfamouscoralreef.Theysayitisoutrageoustoputcorporateprofit
saheadofsuchanimportantmarineenvironment.About3millioncubi
cmetersofmudwillbepouredintothereef'swaters.Authoritiessaythe
sludgewillnotbedumpedontopofanycoral.TheBarrierReefistheworl
d'slargestcoralreefsystem.Itstretchesforover2,600kilometres,co
veringanareaofapproximately344,400squarekilometres.Itreceive
sspecialprotectionfromAustralia'sgovernmenttolimittheimpactoff
ishingandtourism.Climatechangeisalreadydamagingitsdelicateec
osystemsbybleachingandkillingthecoral.Thereefcreates$3billiona
yearintourismrevenue.Greenpeacewarnedthatthedumping,"ison
emorebodyblowfortheReefwhichfurtherthreatensmarinelife,itsW
orldHeritagestatusandAustralia'stourismandfishingindustries".Th
eWorldWildlifeFundsaidthedecisionmarked,"asaddayforthereefan
danyonewhocaresaboutitsfuture".

FREE WRITING

Write about the ocean for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Companies generally put the environment before profits. Do you agree? State why.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about the ocean. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. DANGERS: Make a poster about the dangers the oceans face from human activity. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. GREAT BARRIER REEF: Write a magazine article about the Great Barrier Reef and the dumping. Include imaginary interviews with the CEO of the port, a Greenpeace official and a fish who lives in the reef.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to Australia's Environment Minister. Ask him three questions about the dumping. Give him three pieces of advice on what to do from now. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

A Few Additional Activities for Students

Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

Also...

Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

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  • Warm ups
  • Pre-reading / Post-reading
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  • Working with words
  • While-reading / While-listening
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  • Post-reading / Post-listening
  • Discussions
  • Using opinions
  • Plans
  • Language
  • Using lists
  • Using quotes
  • Task-based activities
  • Role plays
  • Using the central characters in the article
  • Using themes from the news
  • Homework

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ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

F

d

T

e

F

f

T

g

F

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

approved

a.

OK'd

2.

expand

b.

develop

3.

go-ahead

c.

green light

4.

up in arms

d.

angry

5.

outrageous

e.

shocking

6.

stretches

f.

spans

7.

receives

g.

gets

8.

delicate

h.

fragile

9.

threatens

i.

endangers

10.

marked

j.

represented

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

A coal port

2.

Australia's Environment Minister

3.

They were up in arms

4.

Profits

5.

About 3 million cubic meters

6.

Approximately 344,400 square kilometres

7.

Bleaching and killing it

8.

$3 billion

9.

Greenpeace

10.

A sad one

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

.

c

2.

a

3.

b

4.

d

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

b

9.

b

10.

a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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