The Reading / Listening - Biodiversity Loss - Level 3

Australia is home to some of the most amazing creatures and plant life in the world. It is famous for its diversity of species. However, scientists have just reported a "shocking" loss of biodiversity. The government has released its State of the Environment Report. It is depressing reading. The report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of pollution. It concludes that the condition of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". Australia has been hit by drought, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killed many animals and caused the loss of natural habitat. Climate change is also harming Australia's ecosystems.

Australia publishes its State of the Environment Report every five years. Each report has painted a sadder picture. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is suffering because the government is not taking action. It said: "There's nothing in this report we don't know. This is the fourth…report and every time it has told us that the environment is getting worse and worse and worse because we're not taking the type of action we need." Australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent. More than 100 Australian species are now extinct. An environmentalist said the report was, "a wake-up call to the damage humans are doing to the world around us".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Biodiversity Loss - Level 0,  Biodiversity Loss - Level 1   or  Biodiversity Loss - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/19/australia-reveals-shocking-decline-in-its-unique-environment
  • https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/australian-environmental-report-tallies-lost-land-species-87049325
  • https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/australia-more-willing-to-catalogue-destruction-of-natural-heritage-than-to-preserve-it-20220718-p5b2id.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BIODIVERSITY LOSS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about biodiversity loss. 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?
       Australia / creatures / plant life / diversity / depressing / habitat / drought / animals /
       picture / environment / action / report / worse and worse / mammal / extinct / world
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. DNA: Students A strongly believe we should use DNA to bring extinct animals back to life; Students B strongly believe this is crazy. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS: What do you know about these Australian animals? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Think

Koala

 

 

Kangaroos

 

 

Emus

 

 

Dingos

 

 

Redback spiders

 

 

Taipan

 

 
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. WORLD: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "world". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BIODIVERSITY LOSS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things most responsible for biodiversity loss at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Habitat loss
  • Pollution
  • Invasive species
  • Logging
  • Population growth
  • War
  • Illegal wildlife trade
  • Climate change

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. creature a. Getting worse and worse.
      2. plant b. A living (green) thing, like trees, herbs, grass, flowers, etc.
      3. diversity c. A group of living things that belong to the same group in nature and can have babies together.
      4. species d. An animal, but not a human.
      5. depressing e. The natural home or environment of an animal, fish or plant.
      6. deteriorating f. There being a lot of differences between things.
      7. habitat g. Very, very sad.

    Paragraph 2

      8. publish h. A group / kind of people or things that are the same in many ways.
      9. suffering i. Of poorer quality than before.
      10. worse j. Any of the world's main areas of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica).
      11. type k. Print something in a book or journal or put it on the Internet.
      12. mammal l. Having pain or bad things in your life.
      13. continent m. Of a group of animals that are no longer living on Earth.
      14. extinct n. An animal with warm blood, a backbone, and hair or fur. It gives birth to live babies.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. All of the world's most amazing creatures live in Australia.     T / F
  2. Scientists are shocked by the loss of biodiversity in Australia.     T / F
  3. Scientists say there is an increase in pollution in Australia.     T / F
  4. Australia's ecosystems are damaging climate change.     T / F
  5. Australia's environment report comes out every ten years.     T / F
  6. A conservation group said the government isn't doing enough.     T / F
  7. Australia is the continent with the most extinct mammal species.     T / F
  8. An environmentalist said climate change is waking up animals.     T / F

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

  1. amazing
  2. loss
  3. depressing
  4. deteriorating
  5. harming
  6. painted
  7. conservation
  8. extinct
  9. environmentalist
  10. humans
  1. died out
  2. described
  3. disappearance
  4. people
  5. worsening
  6. nature-lover
  7. extraordinary
  8. protection
  9. damaging
  10. upsetting

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

  1. Australia is home to some of the most
  2. a "shocking" loss
  3. It is depressing
  4. an increase in habitat
  5. Australia has been hit by
  6. the environment is getting
  7. mammal
  8. 100 Australian species are
  9. a wake-
  10. the damage humans are
  1. up call
  2. loss
  3. species
  4. of biodiversity
  5. doing to the world
  6. drought
  7. amazing creatures
  8. worse and worse and worse
  9. now extinct
  10. reading

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
shocking
drought
loss
harming
creatures
natural
depressing
condition

Australia is home to some of the most amazing (1) _____________________ and plant life in the world. It is famous for its diversity of species. However, scientists have just reported a "(2) _____________________" loss of biodiversity. The government has released its State of the Environment Report. It is (3) _____________________ reading. The report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat (4) _____________________, and increasing levels of pollution. It concludes that the (5) _____________________ of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". Australia has been hit by (6) _____________________, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killed many animals and caused the loss of (7) _____________________ habitat. Climate change is also (8) _____________________ Australia's ecosystems.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
time
continent
painted
humans
publishes
nothing
type
suffering

Australia (9) _____________________ its State of the Environment Report every five years. Each report has (10) _____________________ a sadder picture. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is (11) _____________________ because the government is not taking action. It said: "There's (12) _____________________ in this report we don't know. This is the fourth...report and every (13) _____________________ it has told us that the environment is getting worse and worse and worse because we're not taking the (14) _____________________ of action we need." Australia has lost more mammal species than any other (15) _____________________. More than 100 Australian species are now extinct. An environmentalist said the report was, "a wake-up call to the damage (16) _____________________ are doing to the world around us".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) Australia is home to some of the most amazing creatures ______
     a.  end plant live
     b.  and planned life
     c.  end planet life
     d.  and plant life
2)  It is famous for its ______
     a.  diversity of specials
     b.  diversity oft spaces
     c.  diversity off species
     d.  diversity of species
3)  an increase in habitat loss, and increasing ______
     a.  levels of pollution
     b.  levels of polluted
     c.  levels of polluting
     d.  levels of poll you shun
4)  These have killed many animals and caused the loss ______
     a.  off natural habit at
     b.  of natural habitat
     c.  of naturally habitat
     d.  of natural habit at
5)  Climate change is also ______
     a.  harming Australia's echo systems
     b.  harming Australia's eek oh systems
     c.  harming Australia's ecosystems
     d.  harming Australia's eco-cisterns

6)  every five years. Each report has painted ______
     a.  a sadden picture
     b.  a sadder picture
     c.  a sudden picture
     d.  a sodden picture
7)  the environment is getting worse and ______
     a.  worst and worse
     b.  worse and worst
     c.  worse and worse
     d.  worst and worst
8)  Australia has lost more mammal species than ______
     a.  any other incontinent
     b.  any other continent
     c.  any other continental
     d.  any other continent
9)  More than 100 Australian species ______
     a.  are now exact
     b.  are now exiting
     c.  are now extinct
     d.  are now eggs stink
10)  a wake-up call to the damage humans are doing to the ______
     a.  world around us
     b.  world abound us
     c.  world are round us
     d.  world aloud us

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Australia is home to some of (1) ____________________ creatures and plant life in the world. It is famous for its diversity of species. However, scientists have (2) ____________________ "shocking" loss of biodiversity. The government has released its State of the Environment Report. It is depressing reading. The report (3) ____________________ decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of pollution. It (4) ____________________ condition of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". Australia has (5) ____________________ drought, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killed many animals and caused the loss of natural habitat. Climate change                                       (6) ____________________ Australia's ecosystems.

Australia publishes its State of the Environment Report (7) ____________________. Each report has painted (8) ____________________. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is suffering because the government is (9) ____________________. It said: "There's nothing in this report we don't know. This is the fourth...report and every time it has told us that the environment is getting worse and (10) ____________________ because we're not taking the type of action we need." Australia has lost more mammal species than (11) ____________________. More than 100 Australian species are now extinct. An environmentalist said the report was, "a wake-up call to the damage humans are doing to the (12) ____________________".

Comprehension questions

  1. Where does the article say is home to amazing plant life?
  2. What does the report say there are increasing levels of?
  3. What do scientists say Australia's environment is, besides deteriorating?
  4. When was Australia hit by droughts and floods?
  5. What does the article say is harming Australia's ecosystems?
  6. How often does Australia publish its environment report?
  7. How many environment reports have there been?
  8. What does a conservation group say the government is not doing?
  9. How many species of Australian mammals are now extinct?
  10. Who did an environmentalist say is damaging the world around us?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Where does the article say is home to amazing plant life?
a) the Outback
b) the Great Barrier Leaf
c) the Blue Mountains
d) Australia
2) What does the report say there are increasing levels of?
a) biodiversity
b) pollution
c) shocks
d) deterioration
3) What do scientists say Australia's environment is, besides deteriorating?
a) lovely
b) hot
c) cool
d) poor
4) When was Australia hit by droughts and floods?
a) in the 1900s
b) last week
c) in the past five years
d) on Tuesday afternoons
5) What does the article say is harming Australia's ecosystems?
a) mining
b) invasive species
c) the Internet
d) climate change

6) How often does Australia publish its environment report?
a) yearly
b) once every two years
c) every five years
d) every decade
7) How many environment reports have there been?
a) four
b) five
c) three
d) six
8) What does a conservation group say the government is not doing?
a) working
b) creating zoos
c) taking action
d) talking
9) How many species of Australian mammals are now extinct?
a) 1,208
b) more than 100
c) thousands
d) dozens
10) Who did an environmentalist say is damaging the world around us?
a) humans
b) politicians
c) the government
d) loggers

Role play

Role  A – Pollution
You think pollution is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): logging, war or illegal wildlife change.

Role  B – Logging
You think logging is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): pollution, war or illegal wildlife change.

Role  C – War
You think war is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): logging, pollution or illegal wildlife change.

Role  D – Illegal Wildlife Trade
You think the illegal wildlife change is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as bad. Also, tell the others which is the least damaging of these (and why): logging, war or pollution.

After reading / listening

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

'environment'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'biodiversity'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • 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:

    • home
    • shocking
    • serious
    • levels
    • fires
    • harming
    • five
    • sadder
    • action
    • worse
    • 100
    • humans

    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 - Biodiversity Loss

    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 'biodiversity'?
    3. What do you know about Australia?
    4. How is your country doing with biodiversity?
    5. How would you feel if koalas became extinct?
    6. How depressing is the state of the environment?
    7. What's pollution like in your country?
    8. What do you think of habitat loss?
    9. Is your country experiencing more natural disasters?
    10. What do you think of climate change?

    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 'environment'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Australia's animals, marine life and plants?
    5. What animals have become extinct in your country?
    6. What makes you sad about the environment?
    7. What action should the government take?
    8. Why do governments do so little to stop species extinction?
    9. Why are so many people not listening to the 'wake-up call'?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the environmentalists?

    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)

    Australia is (1) ____ to some of the most amazing creatures and plant life in the world. It is famous for its diversity (2) ____ species. However, scientists have just reported a "shocking" loss of biodiversity. The government has (3) ____ its State of the Environment Report. It is depressing reading. The report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity, an increase in (4) ____ loss, and increasing levels of pollution. It concludes that the condition of Australia's environment is "(5) ____ and deteriorating". Australia has been hit by drought, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killed many animals and caused the loss of natural habitat. Climate change is also (6) ____ Australia's ecosystems.

    Australia publishes its State of the Environment Report every five years. Each report has painted a (7) ____ picture. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is suffering (8) ____ the government is not taking action. It said: "There's nothing in this report we don't know. This is the fourth...report and every time it has told (9) ____ that the environment is getting worse and worse and worse because we're not taking the (10) ____ of action we need." Australia has lost more mammal species than (11) ____ other continent. More than 100 Australian species are now extinct. An environmentalist said the report was, "a wake-up (12) ____ to the damage humans are doing to the world around us".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     house     (b)     home     (c)     homely     (d)     housed    
    (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     by    
    (a)     relics     (b)     rallied     (c)     realised     (d)     released    
    (a)     habitual     (b)     habitat     (c)     habit     (d)     habits    
    (a)     penniless     (b)     poor     (c)     poverty     (d)     stingy    
    (a)     harmful     (b)     harmed     (c)     harming     (d)     harm    
    (a)     sadden     (b)     suddenly     (c)     sadder     (d)     sadly    
    (a)     although     (b)     however     (c)     because     (d)     moreover    
    (a)     they     (b)     we     (c)     them     (d)     us    
    (a)     type     (b)     tap     (c)     key     (d)     write    
    (a)     any     (b)     many     (c)     some     (d)     most     
    (a)     coffee     (b)     cake     (c)     call     (d)     crash

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. some of the most amazing seturrace
    2. famous for its idtyisrev
    3. It is dpieesgnsr reading
    4. Australia has been hit by rghodtu
    5. the loss of natural aibatht
    6. harming Australia's ecemysssto

    Paragraph 2

    1. Australia's natural environment is ngfuriesf
    2. the tovengmern is not taking action
    3. Australia has lost more mlamam species
    4. than any other ottncenin
    5. 100 Australian species are now icetnxt
    6. the damage sunham are doing

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of species. However, scientists have just reported a "shocking" loss of biodiversity. The government has
    (...)  Australia publishes its State of the Environment Report every five years. Each report has painted a sadder
    (...)  know. This is the fourth...report and every time it has told us that the environment is getting worse and worse
    (...)  species than any other continent. More than 100 Australian species are now extinct. An environmentalist
    (...)  decline in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of pollution. It concludes
    (...)  because the government is not taking action. It said: "There's nothing in this report we don't
    (...)  and worse because we're not taking the type of action we need." Australia has lost more mammal
    (...)  by drought, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killed many animals and
    (...)  released its State of the Environment Report. It is depressing reading. The report reveals a serious
    (...)  that the condition of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". Australia has been hit
    (...)  picture. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is suffering
    (...)  said the report was, "a wake-up call to the damage humans are doing to the world around us".
    (.1.) Australia is home to some of the most amazing creatures and plant life in the world. It is famous for its diversity
    (...)  caused the loss of natural habitat. Climate change is also harming Australia's ecosystems.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. amazing   some   of   most   the   creatures   .   Home   to
    2. its   species   .   is   famous   of   It   for   diversity
    3. reveals   The   decline   serious   report   biodiversity   .   in   a
    4. caused   loss   natural   These   of   have   habitat   .   the
    5. change   harming   also   is   ecosystems   .   Climate   Australia's
    6. has   Each   a   picture   .   painted   sadder   report
    7. report   this   in   we   don't   There's   know   .   nothing
    8. getting   and   The   worse   environment's   worse   worse   .   and
    9. are   Australian   than   species   now   extinct   .   100   More
    10. damage   to   doing   humans   the   are   world   .   The

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Australia is home / house to some of the most amazing creatures and plant life in the world. It is famous / famously for its diversity of species. However, scientists have just reporting / reported a "shocking" loss of biodiversity. The government has released / relished its State of the Environment Report. It is depressed / depressing reading. The report reveals a serious decline on / in biodiversity, an increase in habitat loss, and increasing levels of polluted / pollution. It concludes that the condition of Australia's environment is "poor and deteriorating". Australia has been hit by draught / drought, fires and floods in the past five years. These have killing / killed many animals and caused the loss of natural / naturally habitat. Climate change is also harming Australia's ecosystems.

    Australia publishes its State of the Environment Report all / every five years. Each report has painted a sadder / sadden picture. The Australian Conservation Foundation said Australia's natural environment is suffer / suffering because the government is not taking action. It said: "There's nothing in / at this report we don't know. This is the fourth...report and every time it has told them / us that the environment is getting worse and worse end / and worse because we're not taking the type of / on action we need." Australia has lost more mammal species than any / some other continent. More than 100 Australian species are now exact / extinct. An environmentalist said the report was, "a wake-up call to the damage humans are doing at / to the world around us".

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

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    __str_l__  _s  h_m_  t_  s_m_  _f  th_  m_st  _m_z_ng  cr__t_r_s  _nd  pl_nt  l_f_  _n  th_  w_rld.  _t  _s  f_m__s  f_r  _ts  d_v_rs_ty  _f  sp_c__s.  H_w_v_r,  sc__nt_sts  h_v_  j_st  r_p_rt_d  _  "sh_ck_ng"  l_ss  _f  b__d_v_rs_ty.  Th_  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  r_l__s_d  _ts  St_t_  _f  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt  R_p_rt.  _t  _s  d_pr_ss_ng  r__d_ng.  Th_  r_p_rt  r_v__ls  _  s_r___s  d_cl_n_  _n  b__d_v_rs_ty,  _n  _ncr__s_  _n  h_b_t_t  l_ss,  _nd  _ncr__s_ng  l_v_ls  _f  p_ll_t__n.  _t  c_ncl_d_s  th_t  th_  c_nd_t__n  _f  __str_l__'s  _nv_r_nm_nt  _s  "p__r  _nd  d_t_r__r_t_ng".  __str_l__  h_s  b__n  h_t  by  dr__ght,  f_r_s  _nd  fl__ds  _n  th_  p_st  f_v_  y__rs.  Th_s_  h_v_  k_ll_d  m_ny  _n_m_ls  _nd  c__s_d  th_  l_ss  _f  n_t_r_l  h_b_t_t.  Cl_m_t_  ch_ng_  _s  _ls_  h_rm_ng  __str_l__'s  _c_syst_ms.

    __str_l__  p_bl_sh_s  _ts  St_t_  _f  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt  R_p_rt  _v_ry  f_v_  y__rs.  __ch  r_p_rt  h_s  p__nt_d  _  s_dd_r  p_ct_r_.  Th_  __str_l__n  C_ns_rv_t__n  F__nd_t__n  s__d  __str_l__'s  n_t_r_l  _nv_r_nm_nt  _s  s_ff_r_ng  b_c__s_  th_  g_v_rnm_nt  _s  n_t  t_k_ng  _ct__n.  _t  s__d:  "Th_r_'s  n_th_ng  _n  th_s  r_p_rt  w_  d_n't  kn_w.  Th_s  _s  th_  f__rth...r_p_rt  _nd  _v_ry  t_m_  _t  h_s  t_ld  _s  th_t  th_  _nv_r_nm_nt  _s  g_tt_ng  w_rs_  _nd  w_rs_  _nd  w_rs_  b_c__s_  w_'r_  n_t  t_k_ng  th_  typ_  _f  _ct__n  w_  n__d."  __str_l__  h_s  l_st  m_r_  m_mm_l  sp_c__s  th_n  _ny  _th_r  c_nt_n_nt.  M_r_  th_n  100  __str_l__n  sp_c__s  _r_  n_w  _xt_nct.  _n  _nv_r_nm_nt_l_st  s__d  th_  r_p_rt  w_s,  "_  w_k_-_p  c_ll  t_  th_  d_m_g_  h_m_ns  _r_  d__ng  t_  th_  w_rld  _r__nd  _s".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    australia is home to some of the most amazing creatures and plant life in the world it is famous for its diversity of species however scientists have just reported a shocking loss of biodiversity the government has released its state of the environment report it is depressing reading the report reveals a serious decline in biodiversity an increase in habitat loss and increasing levels of pollution it concludes that the condition of australias environment is poor and deteriorating australia has been hit by drought fires and floods in the past five years these have killed many animals and caused the loss of natural habitat climate change is also harming australias ecosystems

    australia publishes its state of the environment report every five years each report has painted a sadder picture the australian conservation foundation said australias natural environment is suffering because the government is not taking action it said theres nothing in this report we dont know this is the fourthreport and every time it has told us that the environment is getting worse and worse and worse because were not taking the type of action we need australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent more than 100 australian species are now extinct an environmentalist said the report was a wakeup call to the damage humans are doing to the world around us

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Australiaishometosomeofthemostamazingcreaturesandplantlifeint
    heworld.Itisfamousforitsdiversityofspecies.However,scientistshave
    justreporteda"shocking"lossofbiodiversity.Thegovernmenthasrelea
    seditsStateoftheEnvironmentReport.Itisdepressingreading.Therep
    ortrevealsaseriousdeclineinbiodiversity,anincreaseinhabitatloss,an
    dincreasinglevelsofpollution.ItconcludesthattheconditionofAustrali
    a'senvironmentis"pooranddeteriorating".Australiahasbeenhitbydro
    ught,firesandfloodsinthepastfiveyears.Thesehavekilledmanyanimal
    sandcausedthelossofnaturalhabitat.ClimatechangeisalsoharmingA
    ustralia'secosystems.AustraliapublishesitsStateoftheEnvironmentR
    eporteveryfiveyears.Eachreporthaspaintedasadderpicture.TheAust
    ralianConservationFoundationsaidAustralia'snaturalenvironmentiss
    ufferingbecausethegovernmentisnottakingaction.Itsaid:"There'sno
    thinginthisreportwedon'tknow.Thisisthefourth...reportandeverytim
    eithastoldusthattheenvironmentisgettingworseandworseandworse
    becausewe'renottakingthetypeofactionweneed."Australiahaslostm
    oremammalspeciesthananyothercontinent.Morethan100Australian
    speciesarenowextinct.Anenvironmentalistsaidthereportwas,"awak
    e-upcalltothedamagehumansaredoingtotheworldaroundus".

    Free writing

    Write about biodiversity loss for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    Academic writing

    We need to change everything about where we live to help the earth. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

    _____________________________________________________________________________

     

    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. AUSTRALIA: Make a poster about Australia. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. BIODIVERSITY LOSS: Write a magazine article about giving countries huge fines if they experience biodiversity loss. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 biodiversity loss. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce the loss. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

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

    Back to the top

    Help Support This Web Site

    • Please consider helping Breaking News English.com

    Sean Banville's Book

    Thank You