Click on this link to find the reading text. Then try to do some of the exercises below.Compiled and designed by Anne Cairns, courtesy of Inorganic Market.
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, October 25, 2010
Gorillas and cell Phones
Toronto Zoo has a cell phone drop off program called "Phone Apes". If you decide to take your class for a visit there,maybe you'll find this material useful not only to teach the language, but to instill some Earth watcher's ideas along.
Conservationists point out that recycling cell phones protects landfills from the many potentially hazardous chemicals found in the phones, including antimony, arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc.
But cell phones also include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in central Africa, home to the world's endangered lowland gorillas.
Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade.
"Most people don't know that there's a connection between this metal in their cell phones and the well-being of wildlife in the area where it's mined," said Karen Killmar, the associate curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo.
Conservationists point out that recycling cell phones protects landfills from the many potentially hazardous chemicals found in the phones, including antimony, arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead, and zinc.
But cell phones also include coltan, a mineral extracted in the deep forests of Congo in central Africa, home to the world's endangered lowland gorillas.
Fueled by the worldwide cell phone boom, Congo's out-of-control coltan mining business has in recent years led to a dramatic reduction of animal habitat and the rampant slaughter of great apes for the illegal bush-meat trade.
"Most people don't know that there's a connection between this metal in their cell phones and the well-being of wildlife in the area where it's mined," said Karen Killmar, the associate curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Mystery Things
1.
They are called "monarchs of the mist".
They are the highest of all living things on earth although they grow from seeds not larger than tomato seeds.
They were far more spread during the age of dinosaurs. Their fossils have been found in Asia,Europe and North America. Now their natural range is reduced to a belt 35 miles wide and 450 miles long, from extreme southern Oregon to Monterey County, California.
2. It looks like a mass of dead leaves, moldy fungus or a termite's nest when you see it high up in a tree,hanging upside down. It lives only in Central America, where it is very rare. It has long, coarse hair and four long limbs. It has three long claws that look like hooks. Its face looks like it is always smiling.It moves extremely slowly because it drags its body as its legs do not support it. It spends 18 out of 24 hours sleeping.
ANSWERS: 1. redwoods (sequoias); 2. three-toe sloth
They are called "monarchs of the mist".
They are the highest of all living things on earth although they grow from seeds not larger than tomato seeds.
They were far more spread during the age of dinosaurs. Their fossils have been found in Asia,Europe and North America. Now their natural range is reduced to a belt 35 miles wide and 450 miles long, from extreme southern Oregon to Monterey County, California.
2. It looks like a mass of dead leaves, moldy fungus or a termite's nest when you see it high up in a tree,hanging upside down. It lives only in Central America, where it is very rare. It has long, coarse hair and four long limbs. It has three long claws that look like hooks. Its face looks like it is always smiling.It moves extremely slowly because it drags its body as its legs do not support it. It spends 18 out of 24 hours sleeping.
ANSWERS: 1. redwoods (sequoias); 2. three-toe sloth
Awareness Walk
Walking in nature can be so much more than hurrying to a destination.Walking is a doorway to being in your body instead of your head, experiencing instead of thinking.When you walk with awareness, you can regroup and return to your centre, clear your thoughts and feelings, and align your inner and outer worlds.It can be a time when you regain your perspective and experience yourself as healthy, integrated and alive. Nature around you, breathing cleaner air and relaxed mood, will replenish your energy and relieve stress from over-committed life.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Ocean Storm
Put connectors on the blanks:
(This is a modified passage from Rachel Carson's book "The Sense of Wonder")
One stormy autumn night ________ my nephew was about twenty months old I wrapped him in a blanket ________ carried him down to the beach in the rainy darkness. Out there, just at the edge of where-we-couldn't-see, big waves were thundering in, dimly seen white shapes _________ boomed ________ shouted _______ threw great handfuls of froth at us. Together we laughed for pure joy - he a baby meeting for the first time the wild tumult of Oceanus, I with the salt of half a lifetime of sea love in me. ____ I think we felt the same response to the vast, roaring ocean _______ the wild night around us.
Solutions: when, and, that, and,and, But, and.
(This is a modified passage from Rachel Carson's book "The Sense of Wonder")
One stormy autumn night ________ my nephew was about twenty months old I wrapped him in a blanket ________ carried him down to the beach in the rainy darkness. Out there, just at the edge of where-we-couldn't-see, big waves were thundering in, dimly seen white shapes _________ boomed ________ shouted _______ threw great handfuls of froth at us. Together we laughed for pure joy - he a baby meeting for the first time the wild tumult of Oceanus, I with the salt of half a lifetime of sea love in me. ____ I think we felt the same response to the vast, roaring ocean _______ the wild night around us.
Solutions: when, and, that, and,and, But, and.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Green Canadian Future
This is an abridged excerpt from the article by Sidney Ribaux and Rick Smith from Toronto Star of June 2010.
There is a new and exciting story that Quebec and Ontario have just begun to tell, and one that we really have no choice but to fill out and embrace.A new low carbon economy is not only possible, but essential. With tremendous potential in renewable energy, an innovative workforce and good policy design, Quebec and Ontario can lead this story and invite others in.Ontario's Green Energy Act has already resulted in billions of dollars of new investments in renewable energy, with the promise of thousands jobs. The two provinces have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on battling greenhouse gas pollution.
We have to stop sending billions of dollars to oil companies and instead create jobs at home by supplying electric vehicles manufactured here with renewable energy that we have produced ourselves.
This story will also tell about what kind of people we are, and about what really matters. It is a story about showing leadership in the world and about restoring Canada's reputation. It is a story about doing right for our children and grandchildren by building them a brighter future. It is a story about responsibility and caring for others.
There is a new and exciting story that Quebec and Ontario have just begun to tell, and one that we really have no choice but to fill out and embrace.A new low carbon economy is not only possible, but essential. With tremendous potential in renewable energy, an innovative workforce and good policy design, Quebec and Ontario can lead this story and invite others in.Ontario's Green Energy Act has already resulted in billions of dollars of new investments in renewable energy, with the promise of thousands jobs. The two provinces have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on battling greenhouse gas pollution.
We have to stop sending billions of dollars to oil companies and instead create jobs at home by supplying electric vehicles manufactured here with renewable energy that we have produced ourselves.
This story will also tell about what kind of people we are, and about what really matters. It is a story about showing leadership in the world and about restoring Canada's reputation. It is a story about doing right for our children and grandchildren by building them a brighter future. It is a story about responsibility and caring for others.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Chemicals in your Home
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
This is an abridged article from Toronto Star of May 2010, "Secret ingredients found in perfumes" by Noor Javed
They make you smell like an exotic flower, but popular perfumes and body sprays may also be dousing you with small amounts of chemicals and trigger allergic reactions and disrupt hormones.
Toronto based Environmental Defence and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in the US tested 17 popular fragrance products and found they contained a total of 38 secret chemicals not listed on the label. On average, each product had 14 of those chemicals.10 of them are known to cause allergies and 4 have a potential to disrupt the hormone system. Many of them are classified as allergens by the European Union, says Rick Smith of the Environmental Defence. "The problem is that they are listed under a generic name "fragrance" and Canadian laws do not oblige the cosmetic manufacturers to be transparent."
People with chemical sensitivities may suffer from nausea, headaches and skin reactions if exposed to strong scents. That's why they are limited even in staying in places with other people, such as theatres and street cars.
TASK: Check this website and discuss about your findings.
LANGUAGE TASK:
Find the past participles in the text and decide which of them are used as:
1. passive forms
2. adjectives.
They make you smell like an exotic flower, but popular perfumes and body sprays may also be dousing you with small amounts of chemicals and trigger allergic reactions and disrupt hormones.
Toronto based Environmental Defence and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in the US tested 17 popular fragrance products and found they contained a total of 38 secret chemicals not listed on the label. On average, each product had 14 of those chemicals.10 of them are known to cause allergies and 4 have a potential to disrupt the hormone system. Many of them are classified as allergens by the European Union, says Rick Smith of the Environmental Defence. "The problem is that they are listed under a generic name "fragrance" and Canadian laws do not oblige the cosmetic manufacturers to be transparent."
People with chemical sensitivities may suffer from nausea, headaches and skin reactions if exposed to strong scents. That's why they are limited even in staying in places with other people, such as theatres and street cars.
TASK: Check this website and discuss about your findings.
LANGUAGE TASK:
Find the past participles in the text and decide which of them are used as:
1. passive forms
2. adjectives.
Teddy Bear in One Hand, Lipliner in the Other
This is an abridged article by Douglas Quenqua from Toronto Star of 3 May 2010
The choice between prohibition and harm reduction has long divided parents on pricky issues: forbid alcohol or supervise the inevitable kegger? Preach abstinence or buy condoms?
Now the struggle shows signs of coming to a new front: the cosmetic counter.
Regular use of cosmetics is rising sharply among tween girls, according to a new report from NPD Group, a US consumer company.
Meanwhile, women of all other age groups, including teenagers, report using less makeup, according to NPD. The economy seems to be playing the role, says karen Grant, senior beauty analyst with NPD, with women cutting back on beauty products to save money and unemployed women feeling less compelled to do their face every morning.
"They're not sneaking any of this stuff", Grant said. "They're doing the shopping with their moms, they're getting the money from their moms and families. It's becoming almost part of the family exercise."
Poor adult judgement or progressive parenting?
As with most such issues, it depends on whom you ask. Stacy Malkan, author of "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry" said that parents have been fighting a losing battle with the beauty industry, which now aggressively markets to children.
Discussion questions:
1. How do you feel about the fact that children before teen years ("tweens") are using make up?
2. What could be possible consequences of premature aging?
3. In your opinion, what is "progressive parenting"?
4. What could be drawbacks of "conservative parenting"?
5. From a cultural point of view, how does raising children in your country of origin differ from Canadian ways?
6. Find out who you can contact in case you have issues raising your children in a new country.
7. Find out about health risks in using cosmetic products. If your class is interested, you can invite WHEN in Toronto for a presentation on this topic.
The choice between prohibition and harm reduction has long divided parents on pricky issues: forbid alcohol or supervise the inevitable kegger? Preach abstinence or buy condoms?
Now the struggle shows signs of coming to a new front: the cosmetic counter.
Regular use of cosmetics is rising sharply among tween girls, according to a new report from NPD Group, a US consumer company.
Meanwhile, women of all other age groups, including teenagers, report using less makeup, according to NPD. The economy seems to be playing the role, says karen Grant, senior beauty analyst with NPD, with women cutting back on beauty products to save money and unemployed women feeling less compelled to do their face every morning.
"They're not sneaking any of this stuff", Grant said. "They're doing the shopping with their moms, they're getting the money from their moms and families. It's becoming almost part of the family exercise."
Poor adult judgement or progressive parenting?
As with most such issues, it depends on whom you ask. Stacy Malkan, author of "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry" said that parents have been fighting a losing battle with the beauty industry, which now aggressively markets to children.
Discussion questions:
1. How do you feel about the fact that children before teen years ("tweens") are using make up?
2. What could be possible consequences of premature aging?
3. In your opinion, what is "progressive parenting"?
4. What could be drawbacks of "conservative parenting"?
5. From a cultural point of view, how does raising children in your country of origin differ from Canadian ways?
6. Find out who you can contact in case you have issues raising your children in a new country.
7. Find out about health risks in using cosmetic products. If your class is interested, you can invite WHEN in Toronto for a presentation on this topic.
Under This Cloud, Life Chugs Along
This is an abridged article by Christopher Hume from Toronto Star of May 2010
Although volcanic ash from Iceland has paralyzed air traffic across Europe, it hasn't paralyzed Europe. But what if the jet stream flowed west, not east, and smoke was blowing across Canada? The results would be catastrophic.
Why? Because in North America, we have no other serious forms of transportation. Take aviation out of the picture and what's left? The answer, sad to say, is precious little. Other than cars and trucks, we would have few alternatives.
Europe, by contrast, is connected by formidable network of trains, high-speed intercontinental lines, intercity service and local commuter lines.
Despite what Canadians might like to believe, Europeans, whether Germans or Swedes, love their cars every bit as much as we do. But judging from the number of people in Berlin who get around by transit and ride bikes, which have their own lanes throughout the city, it's understood that one of the great advantages of urban life is that you don't have to drive everywhere.
In this way, the New World and the Old World have traded places.
Discussion questions:
1. What does author mind in North America?
2. What does he refer to as "precious little"?
3. What would have happened if the ash had blown west?
4. In which respect is the New World old now?
5. As a new Canadian, what do you think about driving everywhere?
Look at the phrases below and try to reconstruct the text that the author wrote in continuation of the above excerpt:
fall behind
lag technologically
distant past
antique system
sleeping ticket takers
outdated equipment
mechanical failures
Alberta tar sands
PLEASE SEND THE BLOGGER SOME SUCCESSSFUL STORIES. THANK YOU!
Although volcanic ash from Iceland has paralyzed air traffic across Europe, it hasn't paralyzed Europe. But what if the jet stream flowed west, not east, and smoke was blowing across Canada? The results would be catastrophic.
Why? Because in North America, we have no other serious forms of transportation. Take aviation out of the picture and what's left? The answer, sad to say, is precious little. Other than cars and trucks, we would have few alternatives.
Europe, by contrast, is connected by formidable network of trains, high-speed intercontinental lines, intercity service and local commuter lines.
Despite what Canadians might like to believe, Europeans, whether Germans or Swedes, love their cars every bit as much as we do. But judging from the number of people in Berlin who get around by transit and ride bikes, which have their own lanes throughout the city, it's understood that one of the great advantages of urban life is that you don't have to drive everywhere.
In this way, the New World and the Old World have traded places.
Discussion questions:
1. What does author mind in North America?
2. What does he refer to as "precious little"?
3. What would have happened if the ash had blown west?
4. In which respect is the New World old now?
5. As a new Canadian, what do you think about driving everywhere?
Look at the phrases below and try to reconstruct the text that the author wrote in continuation of the above excerpt:
fall behind
lag technologically
distant past
antique system
sleeping ticket takers
outdated equipment
mechanical failures
Alberta tar sands
PLEASE SEND THE BLOGGER SOME SUCCESSSFUL STORIES. THANK YOU!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
PLASTIC BY THE NUMBERS
A very comprehensive article on the Greenopolis website, about recyclability of different plastic designations:
http://www.greenopolis.com/goblog/joe-laur/plastic-numbers-what-choose-what-lose
http://www.greenopolis.com/goblog/joe-laur/plastic-numbers-what-choose-what-lose
Thursday, April 22, 2010
CATTLEGATE
CATTLEGATE
I learned about this story in the book "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie (2009)
It happened in 1973's on Rick Halbert's dairy farm in Michigan. His 400 cows were becoming increasingly sick. They decreased milk production and they showed some abnormal symptoms, such as hoof growth, hair loss and severe reproductive abnormalities. His veterinarian could not diagnose any disease. Halbert suspected his high-protein feed supplies by Michigan Farm Bureau Services. Halbert was no ordinary farmer – he was a chemical engineer too, and he had worked 3 years for the Dow Chemical Company. He spent $5,000 on his own testing of the feed.
PBB, which is a flame retardant for plastic parts by the Michigan Chemical Corporation, was found in the cow's feed. The same company also sold magnesium oxide to Farm Bureau Services, to add to dairy feed to increase cow's milk production. The PBB was confused for magnesium oxide when the company ran out of pre-printed bags. Between 225 and 400 kg of PBB were accidentally shipped to Farm Bureau Services and mixed with cow's feed.
The source of contamination was identified only 9 months after it entered the food chain. It took another year and a half to track down all the contaminated livestock and poultry. Several thousand farm families and wider public had consumed poisoned meat, eggs and milk in the meanwhile.
A study which has tracked health in Michigan points to the link between the PBB exposure and increased risk of cancers of breast and digestive system and higher rate of reproductive system complications. Five years after the incident about 97% of people in Michigan still had measurable level of the PBB chemical in their bodies.
At that time one of the most popular Michigan bumper stickers read "PBB-Cattlegate Bigger Than Watergate".
Monday, March 1, 2010
Not Far from the Tree
Not Far From The Tree is an eco-group based in Toronto. They pick up fruits from neighbours' orchards that people don't care about and give them to those who cannot afford to buy them. Their volunteers picked up 3,690 kg of fruit in 2009.
1. Order the following lines into a passage:
or brushed past raspberry bushes on an evening stroll.
You’ve more than likely noticed
which is often viewed by homeowners as a nuisance.
everywhere in Toronto.
spoiled crabapples and rotted plums on sidewalks,
The city is teeming with fruit trees,
Fruit trees grow
but we rarely think of the potential of the fruit,
2. We'd Tap That
"We want to educate people about the urban forest.We don't want to collect a quantity of syrup, but to inspire connections between city dwellers and the trees around them. We will tap only Norway maples because they are abundant.
We will tap only the healthiest trees. Volunteers will drill one or two holes into each tree and insert spiles for the sap to be extracted.The spiles will be removed before spring arrives and the wounds will be sealed."
Comprehension questions:
1. Who is saying this?
2. What is their intention?
3. How will they do that?
4. How do they care about the trees?
5. How will they "inspire connections between city dwellers and the trees around them"?
6. Do you think that trees in the city should or shouldn't be wounded?
3. The following fruits have been gathered by Not Far From The Tree:
sweet and sour cherries, serviceberries, mulberries, apricots, plums, crabapples, pears, black wallnuts and ginko nuts. Find out about those you are not familiar with.
1. Order the following lines into a passage:
or brushed past raspberry bushes on an evening stroll.
You’ve more than likely noticed
which is often viewed by homeowners as a nuisance.
everywhere in Toronto.
spoiled crabapples and rotted plums on sidewalks,
The city is teeming with fruit trees,
Fruit trees grow
but we rarely think of the potential of the fruit,
2. We'd Tap That
"We want to educate people about the urban forest.We don't want to collect a quantity of syrup, but to inspire connections between city dwellers and the trees around them. We will tap only Norway maples because they are abundant.
We will tap only the healthiest trees. Volunteers will drill one or two holes into each tree and insert spiles for the sap to be extracted.The spiles will be removed before spring arrives and the wounds will be sealed."
Comprehension questions:
1. Who is saying this?
2. What is their intention?
3. How will they do that?
4. How do they care about the trees?
5. How will they "inspire connections between city dwellers and the trees around them"?
6. Do you think that trees in the city should or shouldn't be wounded?
3. The following fruits have been gathered by Not Far From The Tree:
sweet and sour cherries, serviceberries, mulberries, apricots, plums, crabapples, pears, black wallnuts and ginko nuts. Find out about those you are not familiar with.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Conserving Nature for Future Generations
John Riley, NCC's chief science officer
When John Riley was a child,
there was a slogan: "Leave no child inside". He spent a lot of time exploring local wild places. It was popular among friends to know stuff about animals and trees. In his high school years, he hitchhiked to British Columbia and back twice, just for sport. Together with his siblings he took care of a big family garden that supplied food for the family.
Now John is the chief science officer at Nature Conservancy Canada. He takes care of spaces and species for future generations.
He says that Canada is multicultural and it is also multi-ecological. The best part of his job is that he can enjoy this diversity across Canada.
"It is urgent to get the job done, before it is too late – to be able to give such an assurance of successful conservation to our supporters and to the youth who are looking over our shoulders", says John.
"Let's make this a year that counts! For nature, for now, for ever."
TASKS
1. Explain the meaning of the following words:
A
slogan
wild
popular
stuff
hitchhike
siblings
youth
B
species
multicultural
multi-ecological
diversity
urgent
assurance
conservation
looking over one's shoulder
2. Comprehension questions:
- Who is John Riley?
- What is NCC?
- Why is Canada multi-ecological?
- Why are youth looking over their shoulders?
3. Discussion questions
- Which wild places in Canada do you know?
- Check the NCC website and find what places and species they have put on their list.
- Why is nature conservancy important for future generations?
- How would you rank the importance of: individuals, conservancy groups and organizations and government in the role of nature conservation? Explain your point.
4. GRAMMAR
Use the past form of the verbs in brackets:
Beryl Ivey ______ (be) a passionate advocate for conservation, especially in her native South-western Ontario.
She deeply _______ (love) nature. She _______ (create) conservation areas along the Niagara Escarpment.
She _______ ( live) much of her life in London, Ontario. Her mother _________ (grow up) in England's Lake District and _______ (tell) Beryl stories about it. Mrs. Ivey _________ (pass) this passion down to her own four children.
Their work with the Ivey Foundation supports many causes, including the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Mrs. Ivey ____________ (pass away) on Christmas Day 2007. In her will, she _______ (make) a $1-million
bequest to NCC.
- Order the words in this message:
environment all role to in a our
we have preserving play
- Supply these synonyms for the words underlined in the text:
cottage, generosity, researchers, endangered, shore, deciduous, properties, habitat, flora, honour, expeditions, Woods, fauna
Conserving nature for a lifetime and beyond ,
The Bickford Oak Forest (1) is one of the NCC pieces of land (2) that's benefited from Mrs. Ivey's passion and unselfishness (3) and is named in her family's respect (4): the Ivey Research Station at Middle Point Woods on the eastern coast (5) of Pelee Island. This mature, 69-acre (28- hectare) leaf shedding (6) forest growing on sand dunes provides essential home (7) for both rare plants (8)- including the nationally threatened Common Hoptree and Wild Hyacinth – and animals (9) - such as the endangered Smallmouth Salamander. It's also the location of a recently renovated country house,(10)
that can accommodate up to eight researchers on multi-day research and restoration trips (11).
Thanks to the financial contributions of Beryl and Richard Ivey, it will be home base for scientists (12)
to study and protect the ecologically diverse and threatened (13) area for many, many years to come.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Farmer Schmidt
Farmer Michael Schmidt, a 54-year-old dairy farmer, thinks milk is healthier before it is pasteurized. But Canadian health officials do not think so. They think it is not safe. They say it is illegal to sell milk or cream that has not been pasteurized or sterilized.
However, it is legal to drink unpasteurized milk. So farmer Schmidt and 150 other people started the cow-share co-op. Together, they owned 30 cows at Mr. Schmidt's southern Ontario Glencolton Farms. They drank raw milk from their cows. They thought they had right to choose what to put in their body.
One day police raided the farm and Michael Schmidt was brought to court. After three years he was acquitted of 19 charges. Justice of the Peace said in this case Mr. Schmidt did not break the law because he was not selling to the public at large.
What do you think about:
• Michael Schmidt
• Cow-share co-op
• Drinking unpasteurized milk
• Laws regarding consumption of food
Questions for discussion:
1. What kind of food processing do you know?
2. Which food do we preserve to keep it long?
3. What is the most usual way of preserving meet/fish/vegetables /fruit in your country?
4. How do people in your country look after seeds/ reproduction of crops or animals / animal breeds?
5. Which animal or plant species do you know that are at risk of extinction ? What do people do to save those species?
However, it is legal to drink unpasteurized milk. So farmer Schmidt and 150 other people started the cow-share co-op. Together, they owned 30 cows at Mr. Schmidt's southern Ontario Glencolton Farms. They drank raw milk from their cows. They thought they had right to choose what to put in their body.
One day police raided the farm and Michael Schmidt was brought to court. After three years he was acquitted of 19 charges. Justice of the Peace said in this case Mr. Schmidt did not break the law because he was not selling to the public at large.
What do you think about:
• Michael Schmidt
• Cow-share co-op
• Drinking unpasteurized milk
• Laws regarding consumption of food
Questions for discussion:
1. What kind of food processing do you know?
2. Which food do we preserve to keep it long?
3. What is the most usual way of preserving meet/fish/vegetables /fruit in your country?
4. How do people in your country look after seeds/ reproduction of crops or animals / animal breeds?
5. Which animal or plant species do you know that are at risk of extinction ? What do people do to save those species?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
GREEN PRODUCERS
Avalon Orchards
Avalon Orchards, located in Innisfil, Ontario, was established in 1988 with the objective of producing organically grown apples.
Apple growing in Ontario is challenged by diseases, such as apple scab and pests like codling moth.
Varieties that demonstrated high resistance to those were selected to be grown organically.
Approximately 10,000 trees, including Nova Scotia MacINtosh,Nova Scotia Spy, Redfree, Freedom, Prima and Liberty are grown in the orchard..
These varieties have been developed using traditional techniques of cross breeding, and not through genetic modification.
Kaolin clay is used for pest control.
This clay is diluted with water and sprayed on the fruit.
It is the same clay that is used in toothpaste.
By picking time it is normally washed off by the rain.
TASK: Turn the passive forms in each sentence into active.
Circle Sun Farm
In 1999 Circle Sun Farm was revitalized as an organic dairy farm. Now they raise organic beef for ground beef. In addition, they mix their free-range pastured pork with the beef and their own herbs and garlic to make fine organic sausages. They also raise rare breeds and a variety of poultry, all without using any pesticides, chemical fertilizers, growth hormones or antibiotics.
They care about the land and betterment of the surrounding community.
TASKS:
1. Give your opinion:
a. What is the difference between free-range farm animals and enclosed stock?
b. How does the use of chemicals affect human health?
c. How is the organic farming better for the land and the community?
d. Do you see organic farming thrive in the future?
2. Explain the meaning of these words: revitalize, dairy farm, rare breeds, poultry, pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, betterment, community.
Avalon Orchards, located in Innisfil, Ontario, was established in 1988 with the objective of producing organically grown apples.
Apple growing in Ontario is challenged by diseases, such as apple scab and pests like codling moth.
Varieties that demonstrated high resistance to those were selected to be grown organically.
Approximately 10,000 trees, including Nova Scotia MacINtosh,Nova Scotia Spy, Redfree, Freedom, Prima and Liberty are grown in the orchard..
These varieties have been developed using traditional techniques of cross breeding, and not through genetic modification.
Kaolin clay is used for pest control.
This clay is diluted with water and sprayed on the fruit.
It is the same clay that is used in toothpaste.
By picking time it is normally washed off by the rain.
TASK: Turn the passive forms in each sentence into active.
Circle Sun Farm
In 1999 Circle Sun Farm was revitalized as an organic dairy farm. Now they raise organic beef for ground beef. In addition, they mix their free-range pastured pork with the beef and their own herbs and garlic to make fine organic sausages. They also raise rare breeds and a variety of poultry, all without using any pesticides, chemical fertilizers, growth hormones or antibiotics.
They care about the land and betterment of the surrounding community.
TASKS:
1. Give your opinion:
a. What is the difference between free-range farm animals and enclosed stock?
b. How does the use of chemicals affect human health?
c. How is the organic farming better for the land and the community?
d. Do you see organic farming thrive in the future?
2. Explain the meaning of these words: revitalize, dairy farm, rare breeds, poultry, pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, betterment, community.
Monday, June 29, 2009
TWO GREEN COMPANIES
1. BIOBAGS
BioBag Canada sells Canada’s leading brand of fully certified 100% biodegradable and compostable bags.
BioBags are supplied to over 3,000 communities worldwide.
BioBags are an effective environmentally friendly alternative to paper and polyethylene bags.
BioBags can be reused, composted or incinerated.
BioBags are made from material containing cornstarch, vegetable oil and compostable polyester.
BioBags will completely compost within 10 to 45 days in a controlled composting facility depending on soil conditions, temperature etc.
Analyses have shown that BioBags have a more positive impact on the environment through reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions and lower acid precipitation than paper and polyethylene bags..
BioBags are also available for pet waste disposal, and films for organic farms and gardens to inhibit weeds.
TRUE OR FALSE:
1. BioBags are a better alternative than paper or plastic bags.
2. They cannot fully decompose in the landfill.
3. They contain polyester.
4. They are made of corn.
5. You can put them in a green bin.
6. They are not good for the soil.
7. Burning plastic bags causes acid rains.
8. BioBags are recyclable.
9. BioBags are exported from Canada.
Answers: 1.T, 2.F, 3.T, 4.T, 5.T, 6.F, 7.T, 8.F, 9.T.
2. ECOVER
Ecover started 25 years ago as a small soap company in Belgium.
Since then it has developed into an international leader in the production of environmentally sustainable laundry, dishwashing and general household cleaning products.
Ecover’s mission is to provide an alternative solution to conventional cleaning products by using safe ingredients at a minimum cost to the environment.
It has developed a full line of plant-based cleaners and detergents.
Ecover’s factory features a grass roof for insulation, wood from sustainable forests and bricks from coal mine waste.
The facility is 99% emission free.
TRUE OR FALSE:
1. Ecover is a factory in Belgium.
2. It is 25 years old.
3. They produce cleaning products.
4. Those products are safe for the environment.
5. They are very low priced.
6. They are made with coal.
7. The factory is environmentally friendly.
8. They do not have any gas emissions at all.
Answers: 1.F, 2.T, 3.T, 4.T, 5.F, 6.F, 7.T, 8.F.
BioBag Canada sells Canada’s leading brand of fully certified 100% biodegradable and compostable bags.
BioBags are supplied to over 3,000 communities worldwide.
BioBags are an effective environmentally friendly alternative to paper and polyethylene bags.
BioBags can be reused, composted or incinerated.
BioBags are made from material containing cornstarch, vegetable oil and compostable polyester.
BioBags will completely compost within 10 to 45 days in a controlled composting facility depending on soil conditions, temperature etc.
Analyses have shown that BioBags have a more positive impact on the environment through reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions and lower acid precipitation than paper and polyethylene bags..
BioBags are also available for pet waste disposal, and films for organic farms and gardens to inhibit weeds.
TRUE OR FALSE:
1. BioBags are a better alternative than paper or plastic bags.
2. They cannot fully decompose in the landfill.
3. They contain polyester.
4. They are made of corn.
5. You can put them in a green bin.
6. They are not good for the soil.
7. Burning plastic bags causes acid rains.
8. BioBags are recyclable.
9. BioBags are exported from Canada.
Answers: 1.T, 2.F, 3.T, 4.T, 5.T, 6.F, 7.T, 8.F, 9.T.
2. ECOVER
Ecover started 25 years ago as a small soap company in Belgium.
Since then it has developed into an international leader in the production of environmentally sustainable laundry, dishwashing and general household cleaning products.
Ecover’s mission is to provide an alternative solution to conventional cleaning products by using safe ingredients at a minimum cost to the environment.
It has developed a full line of plant-based cleaners and detergents.
Ecover’s factory features a grass roof for insulation, wood from sustainable forests and bricks from coal mine waste.
The facility is 99% emission free.
TRUE OR FALSE:
1. Ecover is a factory in Belgium.
2. It is 25 years old.
3. They produce cleaning products.
4. Those products are safe for the environment.
5. They are very low priced.
6. They are made with coal.
7. The factory is environmentally friendly.
8. They do not have any gas emissions at all.
Answers: 1.F, 2.T, 3.T, 4.T, 5.F, 6.F, 7.T, 8.F.
Facts on Endangered Breeds of Livestock and Poultry
Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), "The Chance to Survive" L. Alderson (www.rarebreedscanada.org)
About one third of the world's domestic animal breeds are now at risk of becoming extinct.
About 40 breeds of domestic animals contribute to 30-40% of the total value of food and agriculture production.
In 80% of the world's rural areas, the locally adapted breeds are superior to common modern breeds.
In North America, about 41 breeds are seen to be at risk.
Breeds can be lost when too much political and economic emphasis is given to one breed to the exclusion of others.
Sustainable, well managed use of animals in their environment will likely be the most cost-effective way of maintaining breeds for the future.
The Charolais was a rare breed 150 years ago; it is now a beef breed of international importance.
About one third of the world's domestic animal breeds are now at risk of becoming extinct.
About 40 breeds of domestic animals contribute to 30-40% of the total value of food and agriculture production.
In 80% of the world's rural areas, the locally adapted breeds are superior to common modern breeds.
In North America, about 41 breeds are seen to be at risk.
Breeds can be lost when too much political and economic emphasis is given to one breed to the exclusion of others.
Sustainable, well managed use of animals in their environment will likely be the most cost-effective way of maintaining breeds for the future.
The Charolais was a rare breed 150 years ago; it is now a beef breed of international importance.
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