The economy or the environment — must we choose?

Lead-in

Reading

Fast reading

Careful reading

Homework

Discussion

城市垃圾

城市汽车尾气

美国密歇根州铜矿及工厂产生的尾料将湖水染红国内的水体污染

全球环境问题日趋严峻

(1) What can you see in the pictures?

(2) What caused these problems?

(3) How to solve these problems?

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1. What side does Mr Lin Shuiqing

and Mr Qian Liwei each represent?

Mr Lin represents the environment

and Mr Qian represents the

economy.

2. By how many times has the world’s

population increased since 1800?

Six times.

3. According to Mr Qian Liwei, What

should be done to factories that pollute

the environment?

They should have to pay higher taxes.

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How well did you understand the debate? Read the debate again and answer the following questions.

1. What society does Lin Shuiqing belong to? Lin Shuiqing belongs to the Green Society.

2. What does Lin Shuiqing talk about to start her speech?She starts her speech by talking about the way vast areas of the world are damaged by chemical waste.3. What is happening to large numbers of fish?They are being caught by fishing boats before they can lay eggs.

4. What does Lin Shuiqing think we should teach people about?She thinks we should teach people ways of living that do not harm the environment.5. In Qian Liwei’s opinion, what belief do people often have?People often have the belief that development is bad for the environment.

6. Why does Qian Liwei think producti

on should not be reduced?

Because jobs will be lost. People are mo

re important than fish and trees.

7. What does Qian Liwei say we need?

He says we need better laws to preserve

the environment and still allow our cou

ntry to grow.

8. What are many people willing to do

according to Qian Liwei?

Many people are willing to pay a little

higher prices for things that are friendl

y to the environment.

Put the subjects each speaker talks

about in the correct order.

Lin Shuiqing

recycling waste ___ chemical waste ___

population ____ fishing ___

water pollution ____ production ___

6 1

4 3

2 5

Qian Liwei

taxes _______

recycling waste _______

factories _______

production _______

laws _______

5

3

1

2

4

Read the debate and fill in the table.

Attitude Lin Shuiqing’s Qian Liwei’s

Industry

Cut back on production because industry produces waste, pollutes the environment.

A healthy environment and development should be possible at the same time.

Attitude Lin Shuiqing’s Qian Liwei’s

Population

More people

need more

land to live on

and more food

to eat.

People are

more

important

than fish and

trees.

Attitude Lin Shuiqing’s Qian Liwei’s

Recyclin

g

Produce more

things from

recycling

materials.

Increase the

amount of

things we

recycle

Attitude Lin Shuiqing’s Qian Liwei’s

Solution

① cut back on production,

② recycle rubbish,

③ teach people ways of living that do not harm the environ-ment

① recycle rubbish, ② effective laws, ③ control how many trees are cut down and how many fish are caught higher taxes ④on the factories producing pollution.

Reading strategy: reading a debate• In a debate, one side gets the chance to

present their points first. The other side

follows and presents their views.

(Lin Shuiqing and Qian Liwei)

• Speakers in a debate will represent

opposite views on the subject being

discussed.

(the environment versus the economy)

While reading or listening to a

debate, remember that each

speaker’s speech is meant to

convince you.

(which to choose)

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DiscussionDiscuss these questions with a

partner. Use the following

conversation as an example.

My dad says he doesn’t

mind a little bit of

pollution, as long as it

means people have jobs.

Personally, I agree. What

do you think?

I don’t think it has to be a

choice. We should be able

to have a clean environment

and lots of jobs at the same

time.

But do you really

think that is possible?

Yea, I do. If companies are

careful, they can provide jobs

and reduce their pollution.

Don’t you think that is the

best way to solve this

problem?

• In your daily life, where have you seen

pollution? How did it make you feel?• Who should be responsible for this?• What do you think is the biggest

danger to our environment today?• What can you do to help clean up the

environment?返回目录

Homework

1. Read the text.

2. Preview the language points

in the debate.