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* 26-page lesson
    (40 exercises)

 

* 2-page MINI lesson
    (PDF)

* MP3 (UK male)

* MP3 (USA female)

* MP3 (20 questions)

* Listen & spell

* Dictation -
    (10 sentences)

* Speed Reading
    (100 - 300 wpm)

* Text jumble 15

* Text jumble 24

* No spaces

* Text Jumble

* Grammar gap-fill

* Articles gap-fill

* Prepositions

* Word order

* Consonants

* Vowels

* Missing letters

* Initials only

* No letters

* Word pairs

* Missing words

* Gap-fill

U.S. town bans small bottles of water (4th January, 2013)

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has banned stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 fine. The new law is the result of a three-year campaign by local resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people about the idea at a meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use fewer plastic bottles, which she says end up littering streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most essential public service: the tap."


 

Many people are unhappy with the new law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water industry said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of colas and other soft drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply drive to nearby towns to buy small bottles of water. One local resident said the new law is dangerous to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her health so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too heavy for her. People buy 50 billion small bottles of water each year in the USA.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20895902
http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/12/30/with-new-year-concord-braces-for-ban-single-serving-water-bottles/tgdOyAtGApWkwgJmgJq61H/story.html


 
 

WARM-UPS

1. BOTTLED WATER: Walk around the class and talk to other students about bottled water. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

banned / selling water / $50 fine / campaign / local resident / plastic bottles / essential / unhappy / industry / local stores / soft drinks / bad for our health / too heavy

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. ENVIRONMENT: Are these things a problem for the environment? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Disposal problems

How we could change/recycle them

Plastic bottles

 

 

Plastic bags

 

 

Car tires (tyres)

 

 

Batteries

 

 

Light bulbs

 

 

TVs

 

 

4. TAP WATER: Students A strongly believe we should drink more tap water and not buy water in plastic bottles; Students B strongly believe the opposite.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.



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5. PLASTIC: Which of these plastic things should be banned? Rank them and share your rankings with your partner(s) often. Put the one that should be banned first at the top.

  • plastic bottles
  • supermarket bags
  • microwave packaging
  • CD boxes
  • disposable cups
  • garden furniture
  • toothbrushes
  • shower curtains

6. BOTTLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'bottle'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

A town in the USA has banned all bottled water from stores.

T / F

b.

Stores that sell small bottles of water will have to pay a $50 fine.

T / F

c.

A campaigner wants more people to drink tap water.

T / F

d.

The campaigner said bottled water isn't good for the environment.

T / F

e.

Very few people are unhappy with the new law.

T / F

f.

Local stores and restaurants think the small-water-bottle ban is good.

T / F

g.

An elderly lady said tap water wasn't good for her health.

T / F

h.

Over 500 million small bottles of water are sold in the USA every year.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

banned

a.

neighbouring

2.

fine

b.

important

3.

littering

c.

annually

4.

promote

d.

put an end to

5.

essential

e.

business

6.

industry

f.

citizen

7.

drinks

g.

penalty

8.

nearby

h.

encourage

9.

resident

i.

beverages

10.

each year

j.

making a mess of

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

water in bottles that are

a.

more tap water

2.

Stores who sell the water will have to

b.

law is dangerous

3.

She wants people to drink

c.

pay a $50 fine

4.

Bottled water is bad

d.

with the new law

5.

promote our most essential

e.

lose customers

6.

Many people are unhappy

f.

smaller than one litre

7.

colas and other

g.

are too heavy

8.

restaurants say they will

h.

public service

9.

One local resident said the new

i.

soft drinks

10.

1.5 litre bottles

j.

for the environment

 

GAP FILL

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has (1) ____________ stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 (2) ____________. The new law is the result of a three-year campaign by (3) ____________ resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people about the idea at a (4) ____________ in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use (5) ____________ plastic bottles, which she says end up (6) ____________ streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's (7) ____________ to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most (8) ____________ public service: the tap."

 

 

 

meeting
decision
fine
littering
essential
banned
local
fewer

Many people are unhappy with the new (9) ____________, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water (10) ____________ said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of cola and other (11) ____________ drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will (12) ____________ customers as people will simply drive to (13) ____________ towns to buy small bottles of water. One local resident said the new law is (14) ____________ to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her health so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too (15) ____________ for her. People buy 50 (16) ____________ small bottles of water each year in the USA.

 

 

nearby
billion
industry
lose
law
heavy
soft
dangerous

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

banned stores from selling water in bottles that are ______

 

a.  smaller than one litre
b.  bigger than one litre
c.  about one litre
d.  smaller than two litres

2)

Stores who sell the water will have to ______

 

a.  pay a $50 fine.
b.  pay a $500 fine.
c.  pay a $250 fine.
d.  pay a $25 fine.

3)

She wants people to drink more tap water and use ______

 

a.  few plastic bottles
b.  fewer plastic bottles
c.  fewest plastic bottles
d.  fewer glass bottles

4)

Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our ______

 

a.  public water system.
b.  public watering system.
c.  public watery systems.
d.  public water systems.

5)

a great example of how communities can promote our most ______

 

a.  essential private service
b.  essential public services
c.  important public service
d.  essential public service

6)

The bottled water industry said small bottles are very ______

 

a.  importance for people's health.
b.  important from people's health.
c.  important for people's health.
d.  important for people's healthy.

7)

people will drink more small bottles of colas ______

 

a.  and other softly drinks
b.  and other hard drinks
c.  and other soft drinks
d.  and other soft drink

8)

Local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply ______

 

a.  drive to nearby towns
b.  walk to nearby towns
c.  drive to new buy towns
d.  driving to nearby towns

9)

One local resident said the new law is _______

 

a.  dangerous to her health
b.  dangerous too her health
c.  dangerous for her health
d.  dangerous to her healthy

10)

People buy 50 billion small bottles of water ______

 

a.  each year in the US.
b.  each year in America.
c.  each year in the USA.
d.  each year in the States.

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state (1) __________________ selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have (2) __________________. The new law is the result of a three-year campaign by local resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people       (3) __________________ meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use fewer plastic bottles, (4) __________________ littering streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our (5) __________________. Concord's decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote (6) _____________________ service: the tap."

Many people are (7) __________________ law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water industry said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles (8) __________________ drink more small bottles of cola and other soft drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles (9) __________________ drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply (10) _________________ to buy small bottles of water. One local resident said the new law is dangerous to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, (11) __________________ for her health so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too heavy for her. People (12) __________________ bottles of water each year in the USA.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

How big are the banned bottles of water?

2.

What kind of fine will stores have to pay for selling the banned water?

3.

When did Jean Hill first mention banning small water bottles?

4.

What did Jean Hill say plastic bottles do to the environment?

5.

What did Ms Hill say was the most essential public service?

6.

When was the start of the new law?

7.

What will people drink instead of water?

8.

Where will people drive to buy small bottles of water?

9.

What is Ann Davidson's problem with 1.5 litre bottles of water?

10.

How many small bottles of water do Americans buy every year?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What is the smallest size of water bottles stores in Concord can sell?

6.

When did the new law start?

 

a) 750 ml
b) one litre
c) 500 ml
d) 1.5 litres

 

a) New Year's Day
b) New Year's Eve
c) January 2nd
d) January 3rd

2.

What will happen to stores who sell banned water bottles?

7.

What would people drink more of instead if water?

 

a) They have to close down
b) They are fine
c) They have to pay $50
d) Nothing

 

a) nothing
b) coffee and tea
c) orange juice
d) cola and soft drinks

3.

How long did Jean Hill campaign to ban small water bottles?

8.

Where would people go to but small bottles of water?

 

a) a lifetime
b) since a new bottle factory opened
c) 3 months
d) 3 years

 

a) New York
b) Boston, Massachusetts
c) nearby towns
d) the nearest city

4.

Where did Ms Hill say plastic bottles end up?

9.

Why doesn't Ann Davidson like 1.5 litre water bottles?

 

a) in stores
b) in streets and rivers
c) in recycling plants
d) in landfills

 

a) They aren't tasty
b) They're bad for her health
c) She can't drink 1.5 litres of water
d) They're too heavy

5.

What did Ms Hill say was the most essential public service?

10.

How many small bottles of water are sold in the US each year?

 

a) the tap
b) police
c) schools
d) rubbish/garbage collection

 

a) 500 million
b) 50 billion
c) 500 billion
d) 50, 250, 832, 988

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Environmentalist

You think the idea of banning small plastic bottles of water is great. Tell the others three reasons why. You think bottled water is a crazy idea when healthy water is free from the tap. Bottled water is expensive and we don't need it. The plastic bottles are very bad for the environment.

Role  B – Bottled water company boss

You are shocked at the new law banning small water bottles. Tell the others three reasons why. Water is essential for people's health. Banning small bottles will mean people will drink cola, and that's unhealthy. You totally disagree with everything the environmentalist says.

Role  C – Local store owner

Banning small water bottles is terrible news for your business. You will lose a lot of money. There are other ways to help the environment. Tell the others there things people can do. Tell the city leader (s)he must end the law that bans small water bottles or your business will finish.

Role  D – City leader

You think the idea of banning small plastic bottles of water is great. Tell the others three reasons why. You think it is time for people to take action and help the environment. People should fill up their own bottles with tap water. Local stores must find other ways to make money.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'water' and 'bottle'.

water

bottle

 

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • state
  • 50
  • 2010
  • fewer
  • bad
  • public
  • unhappy
  • soft
  • drive
  • dangerous
  • heavy
  • billion

BOTTLED WATER SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about bottled water in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

BOTTLED WATER DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'water'?

c)

What do you think of bottled water?

d)

Is bottled water pretty much the same as tap water?

e)

What do you think of the banning of small bottles of water?

f)

Are plastic bottles a problem in your town?

g)

Should we all buy fewer things in plastic bottles?

h)

We rarely bought bottled water 50 years ago. Why do we buy so much today? Is it clever marketing by water companies?

i)

Would your life change much if all bottled water was banned?

j)

Is the tap (faucet) our most essential public service?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Do you understand why people are unhappy with the new law?

c)

Will the new law mean people get unhealthier because they will buy cola instead of water?

d)

Are the water companies interested in our health or their profits?

e)

Is the new law unfair on small shops and restaurants?

f)

Why ban water in one town when people can buy it in nearby towns?

g)

Could you drink only water and no other drinks?

h)

Should there be a system where some people can buy small bottles?

i)

How important is water to you?

j)

What questions would you like to ask Jean Hill?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has (1) ____ stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 (2) ____. The new law is the result of a three-year campaign (3) ____ local resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people about the idea at a meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use (4) ____ plastic bottles, which she says end up (5) ____ streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most (6) ____ public service: the tap."

Many people are unhappy (7) ____ the new law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water industry said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of cola and other (8) ____ drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will (9) ____ customers as people will (10) ____ drive to nearby towns to buy small bottles of water. One (11) ____ resident said the new law is dangerous to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her (12) ____ so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too heavy for her. People buy 50 billion small bottles of water each year in the USA.

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

banned

(b)

burned

(c)

binned

(d)

bind

2.

(a)

well

(b)

good

(c)

fine

(d)

OK

3.

(a)

as

(b)

at

(c)

by

(d)

who

4.

(a)

more

(b)

smaller

(c)

less

(d)

fewer

5.

(a)

littering

(b)

litters

(c)

littered

(d)

litter

6.

(a)

potential

(b)

essential

(c)

palatial

(d)

initial

7.

(a)

to

(b)

as

(c)

by

(d)

with

8.

(a)

hard

(b)

soft

(c)

fur

(d)

velvet

9.

(a)

pay

(b)

hate

(c)

lose

(d)

spend

10.

(a)

easy

(b)

simply

(c)

clear

(d)

sample

11.

(a)

locally

(b)

locals

(c)

localized

(d)

local

12.

(a)

healthy

(b)

health

(c)

hearth

(d)

heath

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

the result of a three-year gmpacnai

2.

local erstdnei Jean Hill

3.

streets, rivers and the syucitndroe

4.

Bottled water is bad for the tmevnnieron

5.

Concord's cionieds

6.

our most isatneels public service

Paragraph 2

7.

The bottled water tyirdsnu

8.

very rpoinmtta

9.

Local stores and utrsnraaste

10.

lose csurstome

11.

ugseronad to her health

12.

50 bilnilo small bottles

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

1  )

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has banned stores from selling water in bottles that

(    )

up littering streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad

(    )

buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too heavy for her. People buy 50 billion small bottles of water each year in the USA.

(    )

Many people are unhappy with the new law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water

(    )

drive to nearby towns to buy small bottles of water. One local resident said the new law is dangerous to her

(    )

kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply

(    )

for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's decision to go bottled-water

(    )

at a meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use fewer plastic bottles, which she says end

(    )

health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her health so she has to

(    )

industry said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles would

(    )

are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 fine. The new

(    )

free is a great example of how communities can promote our most essential public service: the tap."

(    )

law is the result of a three-year campaign by local resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people about the idea

(    )

mean people will drink more small bottles of colas and other soft drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

water     selling     from     stores     Banned     bottles     in.    

2.

who     $50     will   Stores   a   water   pay   the   fine   to   sell    have.    

3.

three    result    law   -   of   is   The   year   a    the    new    campaign.

4.

drink     She     more     wants     tap     people     water     to.    

5.

service    our    most   Communities   essential   can   public    promote.

6.

with     Many     the     people     new     are     law     unhappy.    

7.

people's     are     health     very     important     Small     for     bottles.    

8.

other     Sell     kinds     small     of     bottles     drinks     of.    

9.

People     towns     nearby     to     drive     simply     will.    

10.

heavy     for     her     1.5     litre     bottles     are     too.    

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has binned / banned stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 fine / final. The new law is the result of a three-year campaigner / campaign by local resident / residence Jean Hill. Ms Hill first said / told people about the idea at a meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap / top water and use fewer plastic bottles, which she says end up littering / lettering streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled / Bottle water is bad for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's decide / decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most essentially / essential public service: the tap."

Many people are unhappy from / with the new law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water / watery industry said small bottles are very importance / important for people's health. It said banning / banned small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of cola and other softy / soft drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will find / lose customers as people will simply drive to nearly / nearby towns to buy small bottles of water. One local / locally resident said the new law is dangerous to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her health so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too / far heavy for her. People buy 50 billion small bottles of water each / all year in the USA.

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ _.S. t_wn _f C_nc_rd _n M_ss_ch_s_tts st_t_ h_s b_nn_d st_r_s fr_m s_ll_ng w_t_r _n b_ttl_s th_t _r_ sm_ll_r th_n _n_ l_tr_. St_r_s wh_ s_ll th_ w_t_r w_ll h_v_ t_ p_y _ $50 f_n_. Th_ n_w l_w _s th_ r_s_lt _f _ thr__-y__r c_mp__gn by l_c_l r_s_d_nt J__n H_ll. Ms H_ll f_rst t_ld p__pl_ _b__t th_ _d__ _t _ m__t_ng _n 2010. Sh_ w_nts p__pl_ t_ dr_nk m_r_ t_p w_t_r _nd _s_ f_w_r pl_st_c b_ttl_s, wh_ch sh_ s_ys _nd _p l_tt_r_ng str__ts, r_v_rs _nd th_ c__ntrys_d_. Sh_ s__d: "B_ttl_d w_t_r _s b_d f_r th_ _nv_r_nm_nt, __r h__lth, _nd __r p_bl_c w_t_r syst_ms. C_nc_rd's d_c_s__n t_ g_ b_ttl_d-w_t_r fr__ _s _ gr__t _x_mpl_ _f h_w c_mm_n_t__s c_n pr_m_t_ __r m_st _ss_nt__l p_bl_c s_rv_c_: th_ t_p."

M_ny p__pl_ _r_ _nh_ppy w_th th_ n_w l_w, wh_ch st_rt_d _n N_w Y__r's D_y. Th_ b_ttl_d w_t_r _nd_stry s__d sm_ll b_ttl_s _r_ v_ry _mp_rt_nt f_r p__pl_'s h__lth. _t s__d b_nn_ng sm_ll b_ttl_s w__ld m__n p__pl_ w_ll dr_nk m_r_ sm_ll b_ttl_s _f c_l_ _nd _th_r s_ft dr_nks. Sh_ps c_n st_ll s_ll sm_ll b_ttl_s _f _th_r k_nds _f dr_nks. L_c_l st_r_s _nd r_st__r_nts s_y th_y w_ll l_s_ c_st_m_rs _s p__pl_ w_ll s_mply dr_v_ t_ n__rby t_wns t_ b_y sm_ll b_ttl_s _f w_t_r. _n_ l_c_l r_s_d_nt s__d th_ n_w l_w _s d_ng_r__s t_ h_r h__lth. _nn D_v_ds_n, 82, s__d t_p w_t_r _s b_d f_r h_r h__lth s_ sh_ h_s t_ b_y w_t_r, b_t 1.5 l_tr_ b_ttl_s _r_ t__ h__vy f_r h_r. P__pl_ b_y 50 b_ll__n sm_ll b_ttl_s _f w_t_r __ch y__r _n th_ _S_.

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the us town of concord in massachusetts state has banned stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 fine the new law is the result of a three-year campaign by local resident jean hill ms hill first told people about the idea at a meeting in 2010 she wants people to drink more tap water and use fewer plastic bottles which she says end up littering streets rivers and the countryside she said "bottled water is bad for the environment our health and our public water systems concord's decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most essential public service the tap"

many people are unhappy with the new law which started on new year's day the bottled water industry said small bottles are very important for people's health it said banning small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of cola and other soft drinks shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply drive to nearby towns to buy small bottles of water one local resident said the new law is dangerous to her health ann davidson 82 said tap water is bad for her health so she has to buy water but 15 litre bottles are too heavy for her people buy 50 billion small bottles of water each year in the usa

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TheU.S.townofConcordinMassachusettsstatehasbannedstoresfromsellingwaterin
bottlesthataresmallerthanonelitre.Storeswhosellthewaterwillhavetopaya$50fine.
Thenewlawistheresultofathree-yearcampaignbylocalresidentJeanHill.MsHillfirst
toldpeopleabouttheideaatameetingin2010.Shewantspeopletodrinkmoretapwater
andusefewerplasticbottles,whichshesaysenduplitteringstreets,riversandthe
countryside.Shesaid:"Bottledwaterisbadfortheenvironment,ourhealth,andour
publicwatersystems.Concord'sdecisiontogobottled-waterfreeisagreatexampleof
howcommunitiescanpromoteourmostessentialpublicservice:thetap."Manypeople
areunhappywiththenewlaw,whichstartedonNewYear'sDay.Thebottledwater
industrysaidsmallbottlesareveryimportantforpeople'shealth.Itsaidbanningsmall
bottleswouldmeanpeoplewilldrinkmoresmallbottlesofcolaandothersoftdrinks.
Shopscanstillsellsmallbottlesofotherkindsofdrinks.Localstoresandrestaurantssay
theywilllosecustomersaspeoplewillsimplydrivetonearbytownstobuysmallbottles
ofwater.Onelocalresidentsaidthenewlawisdangeroustoherhealth.AnnDavidson,
82,saidtapwaterisbadforherhealthsoshehastobuywater,but1.5litrebottles
aretooheavyforher.Peoplebuy50billionsmallbottlesofwatereachyearintheUSA.

FREE WRITING

Write about bottled water for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

We should all drink tap water instead of bottled water to help the environment.  Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about bottled water. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. BOTTLED WATER: Make a poster about bottled water and recycling. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. WATER BAN: Write a magazine article about the water ban in Concord. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an environmental expert. Ask him/her three questions about bottled water. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

T

c

T

d

T

e

F

f

F

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

banned

a.

put an end to

2.

fine

b.

penalty

3.

littering

c.

making a mess of

4.

promote

d.

encourage

5.

essential

e.

important

6.

industry

f.

business

7.

drinks

g.

beverages

8.

nearby

h.

neighbouring

9.

resident

i.

citizen

10.

each year

j.

annually

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

Smaller than one litre

2.

$50

3.

2010

4.

Litter it

5.

The tap

6.

New Year's Day

7.

Cola and other soft drinks

8.

Nearby towns

9.

They are too heavy

10.

50 billion

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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