The Reading / Listening - Level 5

A Dutch court has ordered the government to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least a quarter by 2020. This was, "to ensure that the Dutch emissions in the year 2020 will be at least 25 per cent lower than those in 1990." Environmentalists hope others will follow Holland's example and reduce emissions. A Dutch member of the European Parliament said: "This historic ruling will have far reaching consequences in the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world." Bill Hare of Climate Analytics agreed. He said: "This could be the first judicial warning shot to governments around the world."

The ruling came after 900 Dutch citizens took legal action against the Dutch government. Holland was far behind many other countries in cutting CO2 emissions. It was on target for a 14 to 17 per cent reduction by 2020. The court said this was unacceptable and embarrassing for a country as developed and progressive as Holland. The Dutch government must now do more work to finish existing plans to close coal plants, increase the use of windmills, use more solar energy, and develop other renewables. It must also cut the amount of gas it takes out of the ground.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33253772
  • http://cleantechnica.com/2015/06/24/dutch-class-action-suit-forces-government-to-cut-global-warming-emissions-faster/
  • http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2015/06/24/Dutch-court-orders-government-to-cut-greenhouse-gases/2031435154828/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

cut greenhouse

a.

lower

2.

by at least a

b.

warning shot

3.

at least 25 per cent

c.

gas emissions

4.

follow Holland's

d.

consequences

5.

This historic

e.

example

6.

far reaching

f.

the world

7.

This could be the first judicial

g.

quarter by 2020

8.

governments around

h.

ruling



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

900 Dutch citizens took

a.

windmills

2.

Holland was far

b.

target for a 14 to 17% reduction

3.

It was on

c.

renewables

4.

finish existing plans to

d.

legal action

5.

increase the use of

e.

out of the ground

6.

use more solar

f.

behind

7.

develop other

g.

energy

8.

cut the amount of gas it takes

h.

close coal plants

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A Dutch (1) ___________________ government to cut greenhouse gas emissions (2) ___________________ quarter by 2020. This was, "to ensure that the Dutch emissions in the year 2020 (3) ___________________ 25 per cent lower than those in 1990." Environmentalists hope others will follow Holland's example (4) ___________________. A Dutch member of the European Parliament said: "This (5) ___________________ have far reaching consequences in the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world." Bill Hare of Climate Analytics agreed. He said: "This could be the first (6) ___________________ to governments around the world."

The ruling came after 900 Dutch (7) ___________________ action against the Dutch government. Holland (8) ___________________ many other countries in cutting CO2 emissions. It was (9) ___________________ 14 to 17 per cent reduction by 2020. The court said this was unacceptable and embarrassing for a country as developed (10) ___________________ Holland. The Dutch government must now do more work to finish existing plans to close coal plants, increase the use of windmills, (11) ___________________, and develop other renewables. It must also (12) ___________________ gas it takes out of the ground.

GREENHOUSE GASES SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about greenhouse gases 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.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

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

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about greenhouse gases for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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