4
-NiE ,
4 OCTOBER 2017
INTERMEDIATE Our fragile planet
A little effort goes a long way
OUR planet is unique as the air and water composition makes it a perfect home for all types of living creatures, including us. This is the reason why we frequently refer to our planet as Mother Earth as she nourishes and gives us the sustenance that we need to live well. However, over the years, we have been greedily taking all the goodness that our planet has to offer and have sorely neglected to look after it. Global warming, deforestation and pollution, which can all be attributed to our irresponsible actions, have made our once beautiful earth into a fragile planet. Don’t you think it’s time for us to do all that we can to save our home?
Sea ice melting on the Franklin Strait along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. — AP
NiE Activity 1 Creative thinking
Critical thinking ● Identify ● Reason
● Measure
● Brainstorm ● Connect
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
When you think of our earth, what are some words that come to your mind? Give yourself one minute and write down as many words as you can that you associate with earth. At least three of these words must be taken from The Star. Then, get together in groups of four. Compare each other’s lists. Are there any similar words? Do most of the words give a positive or negative impression of our earth? What do you think the choice of words that you and your friends have written say about the condition of our planet?
NiE Activity 2
A. Creative thinking
Critical thinking ● Identify
● Reason
● Brainstorm ● Connect
Problem solving ● Question ● Research
● Recreate ● Present
Collaborating
Communicating ● Oral ● Written
● Aural
● Listen ● Attain goal ● Contribute respectfully
A headline often provides a good clue to the content of an article. In pairs, read the headlines given below, as well as the accompanying extracts. Based on the headlines and extracts, guess what the articles are about. What do you think the main theme is? Check the answers given to see if your predictions are correct.
Headline 1:
Headline 2:
(The Star, July 27, 2017)
(Star2, July 19, 2017)
OSLO: Scientists are sucking carbon dioxide from the air with giant fans and preparing to release chemicals from a balloon to dim the sun’s rays as part of a climate engineering push to cool the planet. Backers say the risky, often expensive projects are urgently needed to find ways of meeting the goals of the Paris climate deal to curb global warming that researchers blame for causing more heatwaves, downpours and rising sea levels. The United Nations says the targets are way off track and will not be met simply by reducing emissions for example from factories or cars. They are pushing for other ways to keep temperatures down. In the countryside near Zurich, Swiss company Climeworks began to suck greenhouse gases from thin air in May with giant fans and filters in a USD$23mil (RM98mil) project that it calls the world’s first ”commercial carbon dioxide capture plant”. If buried underground, vast amounts of greenhouse gases extracted from the air would help reduce global temperatures.
The new Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia Centre (PAM) in Kuala Lumpur leads the way in green design. The open atriums promote cross ventilation, while squarish openings and skylights promote natural lighting, cool the building, and reduce the use of electricity. The roof terrace is an area filled with greenery that contains the building’s solar system. More importantly, the centre received the highest rating of platinum under the national Green Building Index (GBI). The index is a rating system that was developed by PAM and the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia in 2009. Buildings are awarded ratings based on six key criteria: energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, sustainable site planning and management, materials and resources, water efficiency, and innovation. “As PAM is behind the GBI, we have to walk the talk. Hopefully, this building will serve as a showcase for what we are capable of doing,” said PAM past president Saifuddin Ahmad.
The article is about _________________________________________________
The article is about _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Green by example
Sucking carbon dioxide to cool planet
The main theme is _________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ What are some other ways your community can help to keep the earth’s temperatures down? In groups of four, brainstorm ideas and then design a mind map proposing at least five ways your community can play a bigger role in this regard. Use words and pictures from The Star to make your mind map more attractive. Next, present your ideas in class. Finally, after all the presentations are done, the class should decide on the five ways that are the most practical and effective.
Ways my community can help to keep the earth’s temperatures down
Answers:
The United Nations says the targets are way off track and will not be met simply by reducing emissions for example from factories or cars. They are pushing for other ways to keep temperatures down.
Article 1 is about a method that scientists have invented to suck carbon dioxide from the air to overcome climate change; Article 2 is about a new building built by architects using green technology to set an example to others. The main theme is about conserving and protecting our planet.
B.