Listening: a radio interview

[1] what is noise pollution? Look at the pictures and decide how you would define noise pollution.

http://www3.shkp.org.cn/upload/html/2003093096651/pt.htm

http://www.thjyxy.com/school/hnsy/hjwr.htm

http://www.thjyxy.com/school/hnsy/hjwr.htm

http://www.horizonkey.com/showart.asp?art_id=384&cat_id=4

[2] have you ever had a bad experience with noise pollution, perhaps when you were trying to study or had a headache ? Think about some of these bad experiences and share them with a partner.

[3] read these statements. Try to predict the kind of information that is missing. Then listen to the radio programme and complete the notes with one or two words.

(a) Loud music at a rock concert is for the audience but even quiet music at 2 o’clock in the morning is of someone trying to sleep.(b) Noise pollution can be defined as any sound that our daily lives or makes us feel .(c) Noise pollution is generally only a problem in areas.(d) Noise pollution in cities is caused by , and .(e) Television sets, , and can all be sources of noise pollution.

(f) Noise pollution can have effects.(g) Noise pollution can damage our .(h) Noise pollution can increase and can cause us to feel and .(i) Noise pollution can also stop us from properly(j). Noise pollution can have as on now well we concentrate at work and can therefore affect .

Answers:1.enjoyable,very annoying 2.interrupts, uncomfortable3.Urban 4.industrialization,transport,large urban populations5.stereosystems, air conditioners,pets6.Very serious 7.hearing8.Stress levels,impatient,unhappy9.Sleeping 10.significant impact,productivity

[4] listen to the second part of the radio programme. Take notes on the following:

* necessity for noise control * noise control measures * individual noise control efforts

Work in pairs and compare your notes, did you miss any Important information?

Writing:

a report

[1] read the report quickly and matchsections A-D with these heading.

1 positive comments 2 conclusion 3 negative facts

4 aims of the report

C

D

B

A

[2] complete the report with the following linking words and expressions.

to sum up for example as a result however in addition moreover although in this way according to

Subject: noise pollution and nose control measures in china. date:23.09.04

A: this report aims to assess the current and future levels of noise pollution in china and to consider appropriate control measures.

B: (1) a report by the world health organisation, techn ological advancements.increasing industrialisation and ri sing populations mean that noise pollution is becoming a serious problem all over the world, with her large populat ion, this is a serious problem facing china. (2) ,(3) there is very little noise pollution in china rural areas, the average noise pollution level in th e streets of china’s urban areas is as high as 70 decibels.

C: global levels of noise pollution are actually on the increase. (4) ,we can be optimistic about china’s future,the chinese government has implemented several noise control plans and (5) noise pollution levels have improved considerably in the last 15 years. In fact, average urban noise pollution levels have decreased by 3 decibels since 1980. furthermore, with continued efforts, the gover nment hopes to further reduce noise pollution levels. a) A special fund will e set up to deal with road noise pollu tion in all major cities. b) A new regulation, to be implemented in the near future, will impose a’fee on businesses that create noise. c) New schools, hospitals and residential areas will be built away from main roads and industrial areas that create hig h levels of noise. (6) buildings facing main roads wil l have special soundproof windows

D: (7) , there have been impressive improvements in noise pollutioncontrol in china in the last 15 years. (8) , with new regulations and urban planning, noise pollution levels should continue to drop. (9) ,china could become one of the least noise-poll uted countries in asia. ANSWERS:1.According to 2.For example 3.although 4.However

5.as a result 6.In addition 7.To sum up 8.Morever

9.In this way

[3] you can avoid repetition in a report by using synonyms. find words and expressions which are similar to there.

implemented, regulations, current, appropriate, all over the world, rural areas, optimistic

Answers:

Implemented: put…iinto practice, tllk actionRegulations: rules, laws, Current: presentAppropriate: proper, suitableAll over the world: worldwideRural areas: countrysideOptimistic: hopeful

[4] rewrite this paragraph. Do not repeat the words job or company (underlined). Linstead use:

Firm, profession, business, post, work,corporation, multinationalEmployment

When people ask me about my job I say that I have two;my job is a lawyer but I am also a poet. I love my job as a lawyer but I write poetry in my spare time. My first job was for a big company with offices all over the world. However, I don’t like big companies. They are too impersonal. So I left and started my own small company. Lt is not a very big company but it provides jobs for ten people and is not doing badly.

When people ask me about my job I say that I have two;my job

is a lawyer but I am also a poet. I love my job as a lawyer but I

write poetry in my spare time. My first job was for a big

company with offices all over the world. However, I don’t like big

companies. They are too impersonal. So I left and started my

own small company. Lt is not a very big company but it provides

jobs for ten people and is not doing badly.

profession

work

business

multinational

post

corporations

firmemployment

Speaking:

discussing photos

[1] listen to two people discussing an article from a newspaper. who has these opinions-the man(M),the woman(W)or both(B)? 1 feels sorry for tigers.

2 finds the article very depressing.

3 is very worried about climate change.

4 is not sure about climate change.

5 thinks we should change our lifestyles.

6 thinks we produce too much pollution.

M

B

M

W

B

B

[2] which of the expressions from the dialogue(in bold) are used to: a) give you time to think? b)express an opinion?

1 what I don’t understand is why people want to kill them. 2 what’s really worrying is all this stuff about climate change. 3 I’m not sure. I haven’tthought about it much. 4 what’s ridiculous is that they say the climate isn’t changing… 5 that’s a good question. 6 what we should do is start using renewable sources of energy.

ANSWERS:1. b 2.b 3.a 4.b 5.a 6.b

[3] look at the use of “you”in the conversation. Which of the examples(1-5):

a) refer to a particular person? b) refer to people in general?1 Have you seen this article on the environment?2 It depresses you just to think abuout it, doesn’t it?3 Don’t you think so?4 The problem is , you don’t want to just give upyour car and central heating, do you?5 You don’t want to go back to the stone age.

Answers:1.a 2.b 3.a 4.b 5.b

exercise 2 in page 59

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