The Reading / Listening - Household Items - Level 6

Scientists say we are unaware of a massive cause of pollution that is right under our very noses. Everyday household items such as toothpaste, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume and furniture polish contain volatile compounds that help to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducted research into how our homes create pollution. His team was surprised to find that household items now contribute as heavily to particular types of air pollution as cars, trucks and other vehicles. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation sector gets cleaner, these other sources...become more and more important".

The researchers focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a whole range of household items. VOCs react with sunlight to form ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets trapped in our house or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to form tiny particles in the air. These particles can lead to lung damage. Dr McDonald said governments should regulate household products more tightly to reduce their negative impact on our health. He issued a stark warning, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to emissions that come out of the tailpipe of my car."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Household Items - Level 4  or  Household Items - Level 5

Sources
  • https://news.sky.com/story/household-items-like-perfume-as-bad-as-cars-for-pollution-scientists-say-11252527
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02132-9
  • https://phys.org/news/2018-02-common-products-perfume-printer-ink.html


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 :-)

Warm-ups

1. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about household items. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       scientists / unaware / pollution / noses / deodorant / surprised / research / trucks /
       volatile / organic / compounds / sunlight / environment / lung damage / my car
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. POLLUTION: Students A strongly believe humans will stop polluting the world one day; Students B strongly believe they won't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. POLLUTANTS: Why might these things be bad for the environment? How could we cut down on our use of them, or replace them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How bad

How to cut down

Replacements

Toothpaste

 

 

 

Body soap

 

 

 

Printer ink

 

 

 

Deodorant

 

 

 

Perfume

 

 

 

Polish

 

 

 

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

5. PERFUME: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "perfume". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MORNINGS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things you need most in the mornings at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 5 minutes extra sleep
  • water
  • a stretch
  • a big breakfast
  • a shower
  • toast
  • coffee
  • the news

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unaware a. Likely to change very quickly and unpredictably, especially in a bad way.
      2. massive b. Carried out an action; did.
      3. foam c. Having no knowledge of a situation or fact.
      4. volatile d. A distinct part or branch or part of a nation's economy or society or of an area of activity such as education, health, transport, etc.
      5. conducted e. Very, very, very big.
      6. contribute f. A kind of thick and soft creamy substance that contains many small bubbles.
      7. sector g. Help to cause or bring about.

    Paragraph 2

      8. compounds h. The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.
      9. range i. Things that are made up of two or more separate things or chemicals.
      10. react j. A set of different things of the same general type.
      11. particles k. Control or supervise something, especially a company or business activity by means of rules or laws.
      12. regulate l. Very, very, very small pieces of something (like dust or other small things).
      13. stark m. Respond with hostility, opposition, or a contrary course of action to something or someone.
      14. emissions n. Unpleasantly or sharply clear.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Scientists said pollution is adversely affecting our noses.     T / F
  2. Toothpaste contains compounds that add to pollution.     T / F
  3. Some scientists were not surprised by the findings of their research.     T / F
  4. Household items create a similar amount of pollution as cars and trucks.  T / F
  5. The scientists looked carefully at volatile organic compounds (VOCs).     T / F
  6. VOCs and sunlight can mix to create ozone pollution.     T / F
  7. A scientist said government regulation was not necessary.     T / F
  8. A scientist said he needed his car's tailpipe in the mornings.     T / F

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

  1. massive
  2. volatile
  3. conducted
  4. sector
  5. sources
  6. range
  7. form
  8. trapped
  9. impact
  10. emissions
  1. discharges
  2. carried out
  3. origins
  4. variety
  5. captured
  6. enormous
  7. effect
  8. field
  9. unpredictable
  10. make

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

  1. a massive
  2. right under our
  3. deodorant, perfume
  4. particular types
  5. the transportation sector gets
  6. The researchers focused on volatile
  7. VOCs react with sunlight to
  8. form tiny particles
  9. These particles can lead
  10. emissions that come out of the
  1. organic compounds
  2. of air pollution
  3. to lung damage
  4. in the air
  5. very noses
  6. and furniture polish
  7. tailpipe
  8. cleaner
  9. form ozone pollution
  10. cause of pollution

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
polish
vehicles
conducted
sources
massive
foam
sector
contribute

Scientists say we are unaware of a (1) ____________ cause of pollution that is right under our very noses. Everyday household items such as toothpaste, shaving (2) ____________, deodorant, perfume and furniture (3) ____________ contain volatile compounds that help to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (4) ____________ research into how our homes create pollution. His team was surprised to find that household items now (5) ____________ as heavily to particular types of air pollution as cars, trucks and other (6) ____________. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation (7) ____________ gets cleaner, these other (8) ____________...become more and more important".

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
trapped
stark
lung
volatile
emissions
particles
react
tightly

The researchers focused on (9) ____________ organic compounds (VOCs) in a whole range of household items. VOCs (10) ____________ with sunlight to form ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets (11) ____________ in our house or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to form tiny (12) ____________ in the air. These particles can lead to (13) ____________ damage. Dr McDonald said governments should regulate household products more (14) ____________ to reduce their negative impact on our health. He issued a (15) ____________ warning, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to (16) ____________ that come out of the tailpipe of my car."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  a massive cause of pollution that is right under ______
     a.  our berry noises
     b.  our very noses
     c.  our very nose is
     d.  our very noises
2)  items such as toothpaste, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume ______
     a.  and furnish a polish
     b.  and furniture polished
     c.  and fern nature polish
     d.  and furniture polish
3)  conducted research into how our homes ______
     a.  creates pollution
     b.  created pollution
     c.  creating pollution
     d.  create pollution
4) find that household items now contribute as heavily to particular ______ pollution
     a.  types of air
     b.  types of hair
     c.  types off hair
     d.  type soft air
5)  as the transportation sector gets cleaner, these other sources become ______ important
     a.  more and most
     b.  more and mere
     c.  mores and more
     d.  more and more

6)  The researchers focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ______
     a.  in a whole derange
     b.  in a hole range
     c.  in a whole range
     d.  in a hole derange
7)  VOCs react with sunlight to form ______
     a.  oh zone pollution
     b.  e-zone pollution
     c.  o's own pollution
     d.  ozone pollution
8)  gets trapped in our house or apartment, causing pollution ______
     a.  in our hones
     b.  in our homes
     c.  in our homies
     d.  in your homes
9)  scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to form ______ the air
     a.  tie knee particles in
     b.  tiny particles in
     c.  tie knee part tickles in
     d.  tiny particle sin
10)  The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable ______ come out
     a.  two emissions that
     b.  too emissions that
     c.  to emissions that
     d.  tool emissions that

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists say we are unaware of a (1) ___________________ pollution that is right under our very noses. Everyday household items (2) ___________________, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume and furniture (3) ___________________ compounds that help to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (4) ___________________ how our homes create pollution. His team was surprised to find that household items now contribute as heavily to (5) ___________________ air pollution as cars, trucks and other vehicles. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation sector gets cleaner, (6) ___________________...become more and more important".

The researchers (7) ___________________ organic compounds (VOCs) in a whole range of household items. VOCs react with (8) ___________________ ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets trapped in our house or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to (9) ___________________ in the air. These particles can lead to lung damage. Dr McDonald said governments should regulate household products more (10) ___________________ their negative impact on our health. He issued (11) ___________________, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to (12) ___________________ out of the tailpipe of my car."

Comprehension questions

  1. What kind of foam could add to pollution?
  2. What is Brian McDonald's job?
  3. How did the research team feel about the research findings?
  4. What do household items produce as much pollution as?
  5. What sector did the article say was getting cleaner?
  6. What do VOCs react with to form ozone pollution?
  7. Where did the article say pollution is now getting trapped?
  8. Which part of the body do tiny particles damage?
  9. What did Dr McDonald say governments should regulate?
  10. What did Dr McDonald compare household item pollution to?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What kind of foam could add to pollution?
a) insulation foam
b) shaving foam
c) bedding foam
d) sponge foam
2)  What is Brian McDonald's job?
a) toothpaste maker
b) truck driver
c) journalist
d) air-pollution researcher
3) How did the research team feel about the research findings?
a) surprised
b) shocked
c) interested
d) confused
4) What do household items produce as much pollution as?
a) factories
b) airplanes
c) cars and trucks
d) chemicals
5) What sector did the article say was getting cleaner?
a) tourism
b) transportation
c) health
d) chemical

6) What do VOCs react with to form ozone pollution?
a) sunlight
b) oxygen
c) helium
d) water
7) Where did the article say pollution is now getting trapped?
a) in the stratosphere
b) in cars
c) in our homes
d) in toothpaste
8) Which part of the body do tiny particles damage?
a) our lungs
b) our skin
c) our teeth
d) our eyes
9) What did Dr McDonald say governments should regulate?
a) household products
b) toothpaste
c) cars
d) VOCs
10) What did Dr McDonald compare household item pollution to?
a) aviation pollution
b) factory pollution
c) nuclear radiation
d) emissions from his car

Role play

Role  A – A Shower
You think a shower is the thing you need most in the morning. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): toast, five minutes more sleep or the news.

Role  B – Toast
You think toast is the thing you need most in the morning. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): a shower, five minutes more sleep or the news.

Role  C – Five Minutes More Sleep
You think five minutes more sleep is the thing you need most in the morning. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why): toast, a shower or the news.

Role  D – The News
You think the news is the thing you need most in the morning. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least necessary of these (and why):  toast, five minutes more sleep or a shower.

After reading / listening

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

'household'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'item'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • 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:

    • whole
    • sunlight
    • escapes
    • tiny
    • tightly
    • car
    • massive
    • perfume
    • conducted
    • researcher
    • team
    • more

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Household items as bad as cars for pollution

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'pollution'?
    3. How dangerous are the chemicals in our homes?
    4. How much pollution does perfume contain?
    5. What do you think of perfume?
    6. Will you change the household items you use?
    7. How can we reduce pollution?
    8. What are the worst kinds of pollution?
    9. Is pollution becoming more or less of a problem?
    10. How polluted is your town?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'household'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about ozone?
    5. Is it healthier to open a window in your house?
    6. What kind of government regulation is needed?
    7. What do you do that creates pollution?
    8. Should we all live in the countryside?
    9. What things do you use in the morning to get ready?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the scientists?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists say we are (1) ____ of a massive cause of pollution that is right under our very noses. Everyday household items such (2) ____ toothpaste, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume and furniture polish contain volatile compounds that (3) ____ to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (4) ____ research into how our homes create pollution. His team was surprised to find that household items now contribute as (5) ____ to particular types of air pollution as cars, trucks and other vehicles. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation sector gets cleaner, these other (6) ____...become more and more important".

    The researchers focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a (7) ____ range of household items. VOCs (8) ____ with sunlight to form ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets trapped in our house or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to form tiny (9) ____ in the air. These particles can lead to lung damage. Dr McDonald said governments should regulate household products more (10) ____ to reduce their negative impact on our health. He issued a (11) ____ warning, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to (12) ____ that come out of the tailpipe of my car."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     wariness     (b)     awareness     (c)     warrant     (d)     unaware    
    2. (a)     ease     (b)     was     (c)     has     (d)     as    
    3. (a)     helps     (b)     help     (c)     helping     (d)     helpings    
    4. (a)     conduction     (b)     conductor     (c)     conducted     (d)     conduct    
    5. (a)     heavily     (b)     heavy     (c)     heavy     (d)     heaving    
    6. (a)     sources     (b)     sauces     (c)     sauce is     (d)     sorcerers    
    7. (a)     whale     (b)     while     (c)     hole     (d)     whole    
    8. (a)     react     (b)     enact     (c)     pact     (d)     retract    
    9. (a)     particulars     (b)     particles     (c)     partitions     (d)     particularities    
    10. (a)     tighter     (b)     tight     (c)     tightly     (d)     tightest    
    11. (a)     stork     (b)     stroke     (c)     stark     (d)     streak    
    12. (a)     emissaries     (b)     emissions     (c)     embassies     (d)     omissions

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. a mveaiss cause of pollution
    2. shaving foam, dneotaodr, perfume
    3. contain ilvatelo compounds
    4. ibutntcreo as heavily
    5. tlracrapui types of air pollution
    6. the transportation trocse

    Paragraph 2

    1. aiogrnc compounds
    2. VOCs icrnteat with other chemicals
    3. to form tiny esapilrct
    4. aletrgue household products
    5. comparable to misnoisse
    6. the ppaiilte of my car

    Put the text back together

    (...)  polish contain volatile compounds that help to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution
    (...)  warning, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready for work are
    (...)  with sunlight to form ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets trapped in our house
    (...)  of air pollution as cars, trucks and other vehicles. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation
    (...)  sector gets cleaner, these other sources...become more and more important".
    (...)  regulate household products more tightly to reduce their negative impact on our health. He issued a stark
    (...)  or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with other chemicals to form tiny
    (...)  noses. Everyday household items such as toothpaste, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume and furniture
    (...)  comparable to emissions that come out of the tailpipe of my car."
    (...)  pollution. His team was surprised to find that household items now contribute as heavily to particular types
    (...)  particles in the air. These particles can lead to lung damage. Dr McDonald said governments should
    1  ) Scientists say we are unaware of a massive cause of pollution that is right under our very
    (...)  The researchers focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a whole range of household items. VOCs react
    (...)  researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducted research into how our homes create

    Put the words in the right order

    1. right   very   our   Pollution   under   noses   .   that   is
    2. contain   furniture   polish   and   Perfume   compounds   .   volatile
    3. how   research   Conducted   pollution   .   homes   our   create   into
    4. air   particular   pollution   .   Contribute   as   of   to   types   heavily
    5. sources   become   more   These   and   more   other   important   .
    6. household   a   items   .   in   of   range   whole   Compounds
    7. form   VOCs   ozone   pollution   .   sunlight   react   with   to
    8. form   to   interact   chemicals   with   VOCs   particles   .   tiny
    9. more   regulate   items   should   tightly   .   Governments   household
    10. Emissions   car   .   of   out   my   come   that

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists say we are unaware of a massively / massive cause of pollution that is right under our really / very noses. Everyday household items such as toothpaste, shaving foam, deodorant, perfume and furniture polishing / polish contain volatile compounds / compound that help to cause pollution. Dr Brian McDonald, an air-pollution researcher at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conduction / conducted research into how our homes create pollution. His team was surprising / surprised to find that household items now contribute as heavily / heavy to particular types of air pollution as cars, trucks and other / another vehicles. Dr McDonald said that as "the transportation sector / sect gets cleaner, these other sources...become more and more important / importantly".

    The researchers focused in / on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a whole derange / range of household items. VOCs react with sunlight to farm / form ozone pollution. This escapes into the environment and gets trapping / trapped in our house or apartment, causing pollution in our homes. The scientists said VOCs interact with / to other chemicals to form tiny particles in the air. These particles can lead to lung / lug damage. Dr McDonald said governments should regulate / require household products more tightly to reduce their negative compact / impact on our health. He issued a stark warning, saying: "The things I use in the morning to get ready / readily for work are comparable to emissions / commissions that come out of the tailpipe of my car."

    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)

    S c__ n t_s t s   s_y   w_ _r_ _n_w_r_ _f  _  m_s s_v_  c__ s_ _f   p_l l_t__ n   t h_t  _s   r_g h t  _n d_r  __ r   v_r y   n_s_s .   E v_r y d_y   h__ s_h_l d  _t_m s   s_c h  _s   t__ t h p_s t_,   s h_v_n g   f__ m ,   d__ d_r_n t ,   p_r f_m_ _n d   f_r n_t_r_  p_l_s h   c_n t__ n   v_l_t_l_  c_m p__ n d s   t h_t   h_l p   t_  c__ s_  p_l l_t__ n .   D r   B r__ n   M c D_n_l d ,  _n  __ r - p_l l_t__ n   r_s__ r c h_r  _t   t h_  U S   N_t__ n_l   O c__ n_c  _n d   A t m_s p h_r_c   A d m_n_s t r_t__ n ,   c_n d_c t_d   r_s__ r c h  _n t_  h_w  __ r   h_m_s   c r__ t_  p_l l_t__ n .   H_s   t__ m   w_s   s_r p r_s_d   t_  f_n d   t h_t   h__ s_h_l d  _t_m s   n_w   c_n t r_b_t_ _s   h__ v_l y   t_  p_r t_c_l_r   t y p_s  _f  __ r   p_l l_t__ n  _s   c_r s ,   t r_c k s  _n d  _t h_r   v_h_c l_s .   D r   M c D_n_l d   s__ d   t h_t  _s   " t h_  t r_n s p_r t_t__ n   s_c t_r   g_t s   c l__ n_r ,   t h_s_ _t h_r   s__ r c_s . . . b_c_m_  m_r_ _n d   m_r_ _m p_r t_n t " .

    T h_  r_s__ r c h_r s   f_c_s_d  _n   v_l_t_l_ _r g_n_c   c_m p__ n d s   ( V O C s )  _n  _  w h_l_  r_n g_ _f   h__ s_h_l d  _t_m s .   V O C s   r__ c t   w_t h   s_n l_g h t   t_  f_r m  _z_n_  p_l l_t__ n .   T h_s  _s c_p_s  _n t_  t h_ _n v_r_n m_n t  _n d   g_t s   t r_p p_d  _n  __ r   h__ s_ _r  _p_r t m_n t ,   c__ s_n g   p_l l_t__ n  _n  __ r   h_m_s .   T h_  s c__ n t_s t s   s__ d   V O C s  _n t_r_c t   w_t h  _t h_r   c h_m_c_l s   t_  f_r m   t_n y   p_r t_c l_s  _n   t h_ __ r .   T h_s_  p_r t_c l_s   c_n   l__ d   t_  l_n g   d_m_g_.   D r   M c D_n_l d   s__ d   g_v_r n m_n t s   s h__ l d   r_g_l_t_  h__ s_h_l d   p r_d_c t s   m_r_  t_g h t l y   t_  r_d_c_  t h__ r   n_g_t_v_ _m p_c t  _n  __ r   h__ l t h .   H_ _s s__ d  _  s t_r k   w_r n_n g ,   s_y_n g :   " T h_  t h_n g s   I  _s_ _n   t h_  m_r n_n g   t_  g_t   r__ d y   f_r   w_r k  _r_  c_m p_r_b l_  t_ _m_s s__ n s   t h_t   c_m_ __ t  _f   t h_  t__ l p_p_ _f   m y   c_r . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists say we are unaware of a massive cause of pollution that is right under our very noses everyday household items such as toothpaste shaving foam deodorant perfume and furniture polish contain volatile compounds that help to cause pollution dr brian mcdonald an airpollution researcher at the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration conducted research into how our homes create pollution his team was surprised to find that household items now contribute as heavily to particular types of air pollution as cars trucks and other vehicles dr mcdonald said that as the transportation sector gets cleaner these other sourcesbecome more and more important

    the researchers focused on volatile organic compounds vocs in a whole range of household items vocs react with sunlight to form ozone pollution this escapes into the environment and gets trapped in our house or apartment causing pollution in our homes the scientists said vocs interact with other chemicals to form tiny particles in the air these particles can lead to lung damage dr mcdonald said governments should regulate household products more tightly to reduce their negative impact on our health he issued a stark warning saying the things i use in the morning to get ready for work are comparable to emissions that come out of the tailpipe of my car

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistssayweareunawareofamassivecauseofpollutionthatisright
    underourverynoses.Everydayhouseholditemssuchastoothpaste,sh
    avingfoam,deodorant,perfumeandfurniturepolishcontainvolatileco
    mpoundsthathelptocausepollution.DrBrianMcDonald,anair-polluti
    onresearcherattheUSNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrati
    on,conductedresearchintohowourhomescreatepollution.Histeamwa
    ssurprisedtofindthathouseholditemsnowcontributeasheavilytoparti
    culartypesofairpollutionascars,trucksandothervehicles.DrMcDonald
    saidthatas"thetransportationsectorgetscleaner,theseothersources.
    ..becomemoreandmoreimportant".Theresearchersfocusedonvolatil
    eorganiccompounds(VOCs)inawholerangeofhouseholditems.VOCsr
    eactwithsunlighttoformozonepollution.Thisescapesintotheenviron
    mentandgetstrappedinourhouseorapartment,causingpollutioninour
    homes.ThescientistssaidVOCsinteractwithotherchemicalstoformtin
    yparticlesintheair.Theseparticlescanleadtolungdamage.DrMcDonal
    dsaidgovernmentsshouldregulatehouseholdproductsmoretightlytor
    educetheirnegativeimpactonourhealth.Heissuedastarkwarning,sayi
    ng:"ThethingsIuseinthemorningtogetreadyforworkarecomparablet
    oemissionsthatcomeoutofthetailpipeofmycar."

    Free writing

    Write about household items for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Pollution will be a thing of the past one day. 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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: Make a poster about household items. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. POLLUTION: Write a magazine article about replacing household items so they do not produce pollution. 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 expert on household items. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can replace household items. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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