Unit 5 1


Writing skills


Read the three essay questions and the introduction below. Which question do you think this essay will discuss. Why?


a Climate change affects poor countries more than wealthy ones. Do you agree? b Climate change cannot be stopped and humans should adapt. To what extent do you agree? c Should ordinary citizens in wealthy countries do more to help reduce the pace of climate change?


The existence of climate change is now undeniable and the countries that suffer most as a result of it are often the poorest ones. Meanwhile, citizens in wealthy countries continue to enjoy lifestyles that directly cause climate change. I believe that individuals in rich countries can and should make changes to their lifestyles which will help to slow climate change down.


2


Read the main body of the essay below. Does this writer contradict or support your answer from 1? How do they do this?


Transport in wealthy countries contributes significantly to global warming, but it would be relatively easy to change this. In cities, the use of public transport should be mandatory. People who really need


cars should switch from vehicles that run on petrol or diesel to ones that are powered by electricity. a, the habit of taking regular short holidays abroad must cease, as aircraft


emissions are a major contributor to climate change. Individuals should take holidays closer to home or


satisfy their curiosity about other countries by using virtual methods. b individuals can help to reduce climate change is by limiting their use of


electricity in their homes. During the winter months in cold countries, this involves wearing an extra layer of clothing indoors instead of turning the heating up. In hot countries, air conditioning exacerbates climate change both by consuming vast amounts of energy and by using coolants that damage the upper atmosphere of the planet. Private citizens can offset some of this damage by switching to fans, improving natural air flow inside the home and using dark blinds or curtains to block out the sun. Finally, changing our eating habits can


c help to reduce climate change. Fifty


years ago, supermarkets stocked mainly locally grown fruit and vegetables which were available that season. Nowadays, consumers want to buy exotic fruit and vegetables all year round. This involves flying those products long distances from where they are grown, which increases transport emissions. What’s more, protecting those foodstuffs in transit requires large amounts of plastic packaging, the manufacturing of which produces huge amounts of greenhouse gases.


3 4


Look at the ideas that come before and after each gap in the essay in 2. These could be in the same or different paragraphs. Are the ideas similar, e.g., they both support the thesis of the introduction, or contrasting?


In pairs. Think of words or phrases that could go in the gaps in the text in 2 and emphasize the link between the ideas in it.


English for the 21st Century • Unit 5 81


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138