Monday, October 25, 2010
HOW MAPLE SYRUP __________ (MAKE)
First, a hole __________ (drill) in the trunk of a maple tree.
A spout, called a spile, __________ (hammer) into the hole.
The sap from the tree __________ (collect).
Then the sap __________ (boil) into maple syrup.
The water __________ (evaporate) by boiling for a long time.
The hot syrup __________ (pour) into bottles and __________ (seal).
Maple candy can also __________ (make)
Maple syrup __________ (use) for cooking and baking.
2.
Cut stripes with one sentence on each and have students order them in a paragraph.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Saving South African Leopards with Fake Fur
(adapted from www.care2.com)
Use the active or passive form of the verbs in parentheses:
This is one example of a major conservation blind spot in southern Africa right now: the widespread and rapid loss of leopard populations to an illegal yet culturally entrenched skin trade. The most frightening thing is not the rate at which these magnificent big cats ___________ (hunt), but just how little the public___________ (know) about the trade.
The major demand for skins ___________ (create) by the four million strong religious group known as the Shembe church. The Shembe ___________ (adopt) leopard skins into their ceremonial life from their traditional place in Zulu culture where for hundreds of years the skins ___________ (serve) as a sign of the royal family. Now, what was once the reserve of the elite ___________ (search) after by millions of people, and at a single gathering upward of 600 leopards skins can ___________ (see). In a country highly sensitive about race and culture, stopping a practice like this -- however illegal -- through the use of the law, is almost impossible. It is an accepted norm for too many people.
are being hunted, knows, is created, have adopted, served, is sought, be seen
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Urban Forest
Toronto is a city of trees. More than three million trees ____________ (dominate) our ravines, ____________ (line) our boulevards and ____________ (beautify) our parks. Millions more trees____________ (locate) on private property.
Trees are the lifelines of our city. Trees____________ (beautify) neighbourhoods. The harsh texture of concrete buildings ____________ (soften) by trees. Trees ____________ (offer) privacy screens and ____________ (protect) people from the sun’s burning rays. Harmful gases and other pollutants____________ (absorb) by trees. Soils __________ (protect) from erosion. Trees ____________ (provide) a natural habitat for birds and wildlife, ____________ (cool) streets and homes in the summer, and ____________ (protect) us from winds in the winter.
Trees are the predominant contributor to Toronto’s image as a “green” and beautiful city.
Toronto’s trees along city streets, in parks, ravines and natural areas, in the front and back yards of homes, and in landscaped open spaces are collectively known as the city’s “urban forest”. It must ____________ (protect) and ____________ (grow) as a natural legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
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.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Passive Voice
1. Millions of plastic bottles __________ (use) worldwide, leaving a heavy footprint on the planet.
2. The PET used for plastic bottles __________ (make) from petroleum.
3. By manufacturing PET plastic water bottles, greenhouse gas emissions four times weight of the bottles _________ (create).
4. In 2007, 130 million beverage bottles __________ (discard) in B.C.
5. Toxic metals and chemicals _________ (contain) in bottled water.
6. By manufacturing the PET, some cancer causing substances ______ (release) into the environment.
7. Our health _________ (affect) by the phthalates in bottled water.
8. By filling and transporting the bottles the total GHG emissions _________ (increase)
9. In making, filling and transporting of an average 500 ml PET bottle 16 – 28% of its volume of crude oil _________ (require)
10. Bottled water that _______ (sell) in Canada comes from both local bottling plants and international sources, including France and Fiji.
11. Bottled water _________ (produce) by some of the biggest companies in the world, including Coca Cola, Nestle and Pepsi.
12. More and more bottling plants _________ (locate) on pristine streams, causing reversals in groundwater flows.
13. About 72% of the bottles _______ (recycle) in B.C., and they mainly end up as carpets, fabrics or similar products that cannot ________(recycle) again.
Source: Toxic Free Canada 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
GREEN PRODUCERS
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.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Green Buildings Toronto

G R E E N
B U I L D I N G S
T O R O N T O
401 Richmond
Use the correct passive form of the verbs in parentheses:
401 Richmond is a 200,000 ft2 century-old tin factory that _________ (restore) .The building is home to a thriving community of 130 cultural producers and micro-enterprises.
A courtyard, early learning center, café and stunning roof garden __________ (include). Many of the flowers, vines and bushes ___________ (grow) from seeds. The plants and flowers in the roof garden ________ (select) for beauty, aroma and their ability to attract butterflies, ladybugs, birds and other insects. A roof composter _________ (use) to build up the organic matter for supporting new seeds and potted plants. In 2005 another 2,600 ft2 roof garden _______________ (add) to the deck. Two small 100 ft2 rooftops ____________ (install) on two skylights showing that no roof is too small to green.
The reuse of historic buildings is one of the greenest things ____________ (do).